§ 33. Mr. Langasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the maintenance of primary schools in rural areas.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherIt is for regional and islands councils to decide for themselves, in the light of their knowledge of their own areas, the criteria to be adopted in formulating their policies on school closures. I carefully consider each proposal to close a school on its merits, taking all the relevant factors into account, including the economic considerations, the educational needs of the children, and the views of parents and the other interests concerned.