Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron is urging councils in his region to withdraw from the Scottish Government’s controversial school survey which includes questions about the sexual history of pupils.

Parents have raised questions about the content of the government's Health and Wellbeing Census, which asks pupils as young as 14 for their sexual history.

The Scottish Conservative MSP said: “I share the concern of local parents that young children are being surveyed about their sexual history.

“These questions are wholly inappropriate and the survey should be withdrawn immediately by the local authorities.

“However the responsibility for this rests with ministers who should have recognised their mistake and withdrawn it themselves.”

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly (Cowal Ward), Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education, said: “As far as I am concerned the Council should play no part in issuing this survey, whether or not the Scottish Government wants us to.

“There is plenty ministers at Holyrood could be doing to help us raise attainment levels and I am dismayed that instead of doing so,  they have been so reckless as to allow something like this be put forward.”