What discussions it has had with parents’ groups on the consultation process that should be carried out in connection with rural school clo…

The statutory requirementsfor consultation on any local authority school closure proposal are set out inthe Education (Publication and Consultation Etc.)(Scotland)Regulations 1981. Guidance on these regulations was issued in 1981 and the Scottish Executive issued additional guidance in September 2004 on handlingproposals for changes to the school estate, including school closures, whetherrural or urban. The regulations require local authorities to consult parents ofschools affected by specific closure proposals.
The Executive is preparinginformation for parents about school closure consultation processes and, inconnection with this, has engaged with and sought the views of representativesof parents.
In addition I met the Rural SchoolsNetwork on 26 October 2005, including the Petitioner who submitted PE872 onbehalf of another parents’ group. I intend to meet with the Rural SchoolsNetwork again in due course.