MSP left in dark regarding education
AN MSP who covers 30 per cent of the constituents in Argyll and Bute has been left out of correspondence in the latest complaints against the council.
It took an opposition councillor in Helensburgh to point out that Jackie Baillie MSP had not been copied into an important email about working together to find solutions for current educational concerns.
Councillor George Freeman of Lomond said: ‘I am most disappointed that, yet again, no consideration or thought appears to have been given to including Jackie Baillie, the MSP for the Helensburgh and Lomond area, into this correspondence even although she is the constituency MSP for approximately 30 per cent of the population of Argyll and Bute and has a clear interest in all educational matters that impact on her constituents.
‘I note that you have copied in Michael Russell MSP as his constituency covers part of Argyll and Bute. You have also copied in Brendan O’Hara MP even although education is a devolved matter which Westminster MPs have no direct responsibility for yet Jackie Baillie and the Helensburgh and Lomond area have again been overlooked.’
After finally getting a copy of the letter, Ms Baillie said: ‘It is a source of disappointment that Argyll and Bute Council has failed yet again to copy me in to correspondence in which I have an interest.
‘You will know that I continue to be involved in supporting parents of children who attend Hermitage Academy and Luss Primary given significant concerns about the quality of education and this is unfortunately borne out by the Education Scotland report.’
A spokesperson for the Council said: ‘The council leader was happy to provide Jackie Baillie with a copy of his letter to John Swinney and apologised that mistakenly she was not included.’