§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if at present regional authorities must submit to him for his approval schemes for the reorganisation of nursery education which may involve the closure of a nursery school; and if this current procedure will be altered by the contents of the Education (Scotland) No. 2 Bill.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherYes. The Education (Scotland) Bill provides for the replacement of the present requirement that the approval of the Secretary of State must be obtained to every school closure proposal, including a proposed nursery school closure, by an obligation on education authorites to hold full consultations with parents and other bodies to be defined in regulations before any changes of a kind to be prescribed are made in their educational arrangements.