§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce measures similar to those proposed in England to protect rural schools from closure; and if he will make a statement. [33300]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 6 March 1998]: There are significant differences between Scotland and England in the arrangements for deciding on school closures. The position of rural schools in Scotland is already recognised in the long-standing statutory requirement for education authorities to submit for my right hon. Friend's consent any proposal to close a school where the distance between it and the alternative school is 8.046720 or more kilometres (5 miles) in the case of a primary school or 16.093440 or more kilometres (10 miles) in the case of a secondary school. My right hon. Friend gives careful consideration to such proposals taking into particular account the educational basis on which they are made and the wider impact on the community served by the school in question.