What action it is taking to ensure that there are national guidelines for school rationalisation.

CoSLA has been working on preparation of a code of practice on school closures in response to a recommendation by the Parliament's Education, Culture and Sport Committee. It has, however, recently decided that the issues it was considering could not be satisfactorily addressed through the provision of a code and has decided to abandon its work on the code of practice on school closures. CoSLA has subsequently written to my department advising of its decision and proposing a review of all legislation relating to school closures.I will, of course, give this proposal careful consideration before reaching a view.