A HUMANIST group has called on the Scottish Government to remove unelected church representatives from council education committees

Responding to the Government's consultation on the forthcoming Education Bill, the Humanist Society Scotland (HSS) said the "archaic" places reserved for religious representatives must end.

The call followed the revelation in the Sunday Herald that Dr Nagy Iskander, considered to be one of Europe's leading creationists, had been reappointed to sit on the South Lanarkshire council education committee.

Under the law, three representatives of religious bodies, who have voting rights on what happens in local education policy, are allowed to sit on a committee.

HSS Campaigns Manager Fraser Sutherland said: "The Scottish Government have a real opportunity to end what is an outdated, undemocratic and archaic 'votes for churches' system in local education.

"That unelected and unaccountable religious representatives can hold the balance of power on decisions about local schools will leave many young people and parents baffled. More power and influence should be passed instead to those with the most to input: young people, parents and teachers."

Sutherland added, "Currently individuals, who the local population have no say over, include young earth creationists and bigoted anti-LGBT activists. This gentleman's agreement system of appointment by religion deserves to be consigned to it's place in the history books."