Fulton MacGregor MSP

schools took strike action in the final week of term.

General secretary Chris Keates said: “This announcement is the result of the courageous and determined stance taken by our members.

“We have consistently called for a full site survey as the only way to get a true and comprehensive picture and to identify whether there are any potential hazards which could affect the health and safety of staff and pupils.”

Sh e added: “Th e announcement of these tests will no doubt be welcomed by staff, pupils and parents, who have been experiencing deep stress and uncertainty about their welfare.

Airdrie counterpart Alex Neil agreed: “Water testing will go some way in helping establish the scale and nature of health concerns.

“I have specifically requested that the review team ensure that the environment immediately adjacent to the area where the ‘cancer cluster’ happened are thoroughly investigated and tested.”

Constituency colleague Neil Gray MP added: “On behalf of my constituents whose children attend these schools, I am pleased that the independent review is to instigate immediate testing of the water supply and grounds. and “determine whether additional evidence or action is required to provide reassurance to the community”.

Both the local authority and health board are “fully supporting” the review. North Lanarkshire Council has previously said the blue water was caused by elevated levels of copper in the supply due to pipe corrosion, and that all pipes at the schools are being replaced.

A previous council statement noted: “No incidence of cancer [or] other serious illness is connected to the schools or the site on which they are built”; and NHS Lanarkshire added: “At this point we have not found any evidence of an increased health risk associated with attending the schools.”