§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of list D schools in Scotland in the light of representations made to him by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
§ Mr. John MacKayI refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to a question tabled by the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Corrie) on 6 June [Vol. 80, c.257].
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities subsequently asked that present arrangements for supporting the schools should be continued for a further year until 31 March 1987. My right hon. Friend concluded, however, that it would be best to follow the timetable set out in his statement on 6 June. Direct grants to the schools will therefore be withdrawn from 31 March 1986. Rate support grant will be increased to reflect the consequential increase in expenditure falling on local authorities.
I understand that authorities are considering their future requirement for places and the arrangements for providing financial support to the schools from 1 April next. 541W Discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities concerning the amount of the additional rate support grant to be paid in 1986–87 are nearing completion.