§ Mr. Rifkindasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, and to what extent, the views of the Lothian Region Education Authority are being taken into account in determining his decision as to any extension made to Currie High School;
(2) whether, with regard to the future secondary education of children in Juniper Green, he will give an assurance that Midlothian County Council will not be permitted to make any irrevocable commitments to extend Currie High School (a) until the SED has fully completed its re-examination of the issues raised by local residents' associations, and (b) until the outcome of the Goodtrees-Bank head planning appeal is known.
§ Mr. William RossApproval in principle was given in 1973 for an extension to Currie High School, and it is open to Midlothian Education Authority to proceed with the planning of the project. Consultations between my Department and the authority about the issues raised by local residents' associations will, however, be completed and the views of Lothian Regional Council taken fully into account before any irrevocable approval for the extension is considered. I hope that it will be possible to decide the planning appeal referred to before a final decision requires to be taken about 135W the extension of the school; but if it is not, I shall consider the situation with the education authority in the light of all the circumstances at the time.