Written Question · S2W-07191 · Session 2
Whether it concurs with Scottish Office policy from 1998 that acknowledged the importance of ensuring that all those consulted on rural sch…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it concurs with Scottish Office policy from 1998 that acknowledged the importance of ensuring that all those consulted on rural school closure proposals feel that they have been listened to and have had the opportunity to properly assess the balance of arguments for and against the proposals.
The answer
The Education (Publication andConsultation Etc)(Scotland) Regulations 1981 place strict requirements on educationauthorities regarding consultations on school closure proposals. This includes provisionfor parents and other consultees to make representations to the authority, and forpublic meetings to be held about the proposals. Authorities are required by statuteto have regard to representations made to them by those consulted before reachinga decision on a school closure proposal.
The Executive expects authoritiesto implement the requirements upon them fully and in a sensitive and consideredway given the significance of the issues to local communities and individuals. Authoritiesare accountable locally for their decisions on such matters.
The Executive expects authoritiesto implement the requirements upon them fully and in a sensitive and consideredway given the significance of the issues to local communities and individuals. Authoritiesare accountable locally for their decisions on such matters.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-07191 by reference.