The Scottish Government has announced it could take the power to close rural schools away from ministers, after the Scottish Conservatives campaigned on the issue. It means any proposed closure of remote primary schools will be subject to a full independent hearing, allowing parents and other local groups to be fully consulted. Education secretary Mike Russell admitted the number of instances involving ministers over-ruling councils on school closures had risen significantly in recent years. It also helps ease concerns among parents that the decision to close a rural school could be made on a political basis. Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: "We welcome the move towards an independent adjudicator model since it will help to restore public trust in the process. “Far too often, in the existing system, that trust has been undermined and we have ended up with the focus being on a battle between ministers and local authorities rather than on what is in the best educational interests of pupils. “When an issue of proposed school closure arises – as it inevitably must do in some cases – parents and teachers have a right to expect all that the consultation process is fair and transparent. “The independence of the decision maker is crucial in this respect."