Jamie McGrigor on the school closures issue

Jamie McGrigor, Highlands and Islands MSP and Conservative candidate for Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Election 2011, is taking action on both of our requests to him last night and this morning.

These related, in sequence, to the need for urgent clarification of the intentions of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010; and to bringing to the attention of the Scottish Government the intention of Argyll and Bute Council to subvert the one-year settlement, or concordat, with the Convention  of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) discussed in our article of this mornin (10th December 2010).

Jamie McGrigor says: ‘ I share the concerns of many of my constituents about the apparent flaws – both minor and major – in the Council’s consultation document and also regarding how the proposed closures can be considered in the context of the Scottish Government’s concordat with COSLA.

‘I will be contacting the Education Secretary and asking for his comments and advice on these significant matters. It is vital that there is absolute accuracy and transparency when we consider these things.

‘I have also arranged to meet with representatives of the Scottish Rural Schools Network before the Christmas recess to discuss the proposed Argyll & Bute closures.

‘I am still receiving substantial representation from  many local parents and members of the wider community about the closure of their local school and I remain committed to doing whatever I can to support them.’