 He was appointed a Baillie and was Chairman of the Public Assistance Committee; in 1935 he was appointed to a Scottish Office committee investigating the operation of the Poor Law.He also served on Rent Tribunals under the Rent of Furnished Houses Control (Scotland) Act 1943, determining the fair rent for private tenancies.At the 1945, Forman was elected as a Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Glasgow Springburn.