What discussions it has asked COSLA to have with parents’ groups on the consultation process that should be carried out in connection with …

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 1981 regulations requirelocal authorities to consult parents of schools affected by specific schoolclosure proposals.
A COSLA working group hasrecently completed and issued a guide for local authorities on school estates management.At the meeting of the Parliament’s Education Committee on 26 October 2005,Fiona Hyslop sought a commitment about parental involvement in the workinggroup. I did suggest this to the then COSLA Education spokesperson andExecutive officials also conveyed that message to COSLA officials. Ultimately,it was for COSLA to decide whether it involved parents in an internal workinggroup.