John Swinney urged to publish scientific advice on return of Scots schools

John Swinney is being urged to publish adviceJohn Swinney is being urged to publish advice
John Swinney is being urged to publish advice | JPIMedia
The Scottish Government is facing calls to publish the scientific advice which will help determine when schools go back.

Holyrood's education committee says the move is needed to "maintain transparency" in a letter to John Swinney.

Work is already underway to consider the phased return of schools in Scotland, but it could be months away. The UK Government has clashed with teaching unions south of the border over plans to have schools back in June.

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Committee convener Clare Adamson says MSPs don't need to see the detail of Government deliberations or correspondence that would impact on "free and frank discussion."

But she added: "The Committee seeks details of which sources of scientific evidence the Scottish Government is basing its decisions upon, copies of this advice and a sense of the weighting placed upon different pieces of advice."

Mr Swinney has previously indicated in evidence to MSPs that he would be amenable to the idea of publishing the scientific evidence.

Ms Adamson added: "I hope you appreciate the value of this information being published to maintain transparency of processes and to ensure confidence in decision making in the coming weeks and months on issues of massive importance to families and schools across Scotland.”

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