Time for Russell to name the schools

Below is the text of the letter Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, has today sent to the Education Secretary, asking him to clarify which "eight or nine" schools should close in Argyll & Bute.

Dear Cabinet Secretary,

With reference to the statement you made to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 12th January 2011 and to the comments you made during Labour's education debate the following day, I note you are very clear in your own mind that you acted with propriety throughout the whole process of the proposed closures of schools in Argyll and Bute.

You will know that I have now called on you - three times - to publish all communications between SNP councillors and constituents regarding these closures so the public can see all the facts which, you believe, back up your assertion that there was no conflict of interest on your part.

The fact remains that you did state that "eight or nine" schools should close. I therefore believe you have a responsibility to explain whether or not you had eight or nine specific schools in mind or, if not, on what grounds you were making this judgment. If you were acting as a candidate, then I would suggest that the voters in Argyll and Bute have a right to know which schools you believe could close and on which criteria.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours

Liz Smith MSP

Below are extracts from the debate in the Scottish Parliament Chamber on Wednesday January 12th 2011

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): Will the cabinet secretary name the eight or nine schools in Argyll and Bute that he apparently considers could have been closed with minimal difficulty?

Michael Russell: I make it absolutely clear that I have never listed a group of schools. There is always the possibility of school closures—my statement makes it entirely clear that no school exists for ever—but it is for others to list those possibilities and for full consultation to take place.

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