The law in Scotland requires councils to appoint religious representatives to their education committees.
They are usually the only unelected members who receive voting privileges.
This is undemocratic, unrepresentative and unjustified.
The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires local authorities in Scotland to appoint three religious representatives to their education committees, at least one of whom must be appointed by the Catholic Church and one by the Protestant Church of Scotland. They are usually the only unelected members who receive voting privileges.
Reserving a special role in policy-making for representatives of specific religious institutions clearly runs counter to principles of equality. It automatically excludes the majority of Scottish citizens based on their protected characteristics of religion and belief. It also creates a hierarchy of inequity, caused by one place each being provided for Catholics and members of the Church in Scotland, while representatives of all other religions must compete for the remaining one.
The system of religious appointees runs counter to democratic principles. Not only are they unelected by the voters; they are also subject to almost no indirect democratic control. Councils must accept the appointments made by the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church. A council may exercise some choice over the third appointee, but this process is extremely unclear and inconsistent.
Reserving a special role in policy-making for representatives of specific religious institutions, and in so doing excluding the majority of Scottish citizens based on their protected characteristics of religion or belief, clearly runs counter to principles of equality. There is also a hierarchy of inequity, caused by one place each provided for Catholics and members of the Church in Scotland, while representatives of all other religions must compete for one.
The appointment system of one Catholic and one Protestant also entrenches outdated sectarian notions about the identities and divisions between the people of Scotland.
The legal requirement for religious appointees is being increasingly questioned by local authorities, with increasing numbers now voting to remove their voting privileges.
We campaign for legislative change to remove automatic places on education committees for religious appointees. In the meantime, we campaign for councils to exercise their power to remove the voting privileges of religious appointees.
Take action!
1. Write to your MSPs
Ask them to remove the requirement for councils to include religious appointees on their education committees with our template letter.
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
3. Join us
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
