Current status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to protect rural schools from the threat of closure.
The principal responsibility for school provision in rural and urban areas lies with the education authorities. There are statutory consultation requirements which authorities must undertake where they propose to close a school. This ensures that there is a full opportunity for all relevant issues surrounding any proposed closure of a school to be aired and considered.