Committee
Public Petitions Committee, 28 Jun 2005
28 Jun 2005 · S2 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
Rural Schools (Closure) (PE872)
Six or seven years ago in Glasgow we experienced first hand many school closures. We are now aware of the negative impact that such closures have on pupils, teachers and the community. I agree with Alex Johnstone and the Tory party—I hope that in future he will stick up for me on issues such as this—that a school is the hub of the community. Schools do not operate only from nine to four. I assume that in rural areas it is even more the case that they take on greater meaning as a building, a resource and a facility.What Margaret Ewing says is right and the issue that she raises is my biggest concern. What about the guidelines? As far as I can see, the guidelines from the Executive do not take demographic change into consideration. The Parliament is trying to reverse population decline. If we do not include in those guidelines the possibility of our being successful, we will have nowhere to put those pupils who have not yet been born. That is really short-sighted. The fact that such a provision is not included in the guidelines should be investigated.We need to know what the demographic targets are and when we expect to meet them, so that five to 10 years from now other members of the Parliament are not panicking about not having enough school buildings in which to educate our children. I am interested in a presumption against the closure of rural schools because that would allow all those arguments to take place and it would allow greater scrutiny of the process. We cannot turn the clock back in Glasgow, but the repercussions have been negative. We must now deal with that and live with it. Goodness knows what the future will hold. I find myself supporting the petition and I hope that we can take it forward.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Our next petition is PE872, which was lodged by Alexander Longmuir on behalf of the Arbirlot parents group. It calls on the Scottish Parliament"to urge the S...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab):
Lab
Petition PE872, which seeks a presumption against the closure of rural schools, was lodged as a result of the proposed closure of schools in the north-east. ...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
What he said. I agree with everything that Richard Baker has just said, but I will add a couple of comments of my own.I, too, have had the opportunity to spe...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I compliment the Public Petitions Committee, although I am not sure whether it will help my case to do so. I will put matters in context. Two petitions have ...
Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
It is difficult to follow three excellent speeches about the issues in the petition. As the committee knows, I previously brought a petition to Parliament fr...
The Convener:
Lab
Thank you very much for your contributions, which will help the committee in its consideration of the petition.I will respond to a couple of the comments tha...
Rosie Kane:
SSP
Six or seven years ago in Glasgow we experienced first hand many school closures. We are now aware of the negative impact that such closures have on pupils, ...
The Convener:
Lab
That is a valid point and we can ask about that general issue in our letter to the Executive.
Mike Watson:
Ind
I will make a general point first. This morning, we received a letter from the chairperson of the Arbirlot parents group, which expresses her concern—in fact...
Mrs Ewing:
SNP
No.
Mike Watson:
Ind
Are they not? I apologise. Individual members on those councils should be following those party policies. The presumption is important. Another important iss...
The Convener:
Lab
I take on board that point and your earlier point, but the rules of the Parliament are that if an MSP wishes to come along to another committee they are free...
Mike Watson:
Ind
It was not a criticism of you, convener.
The Convener:
Lab
I know that, but it is worth putting on the record that this committee is affected by the situation probably more than any other, but we just have to deal wi...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I want to raise four points. The Executive appears to be placing pressure on councils and the way that they tackle the problem. I do not think for one minute...
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
I was going to ask members some questions, but, in the light of Rob Gibson's comments, I will say something slightly different first.
The Convener:
Lab
Please, do not ask members questions; we are not having a question and answer session.
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
Okay. I will try to be brief and encapsulate my points.I support your comments to Margaret Ewing, convener—councillors are not prevented from participating i...
The Convener:
Lab
The Executive should be asked those questions, too. I do not want to pre-empt what John Scott will say, but that is the direction in which I think we will ha...
John Scott:
Con
I endorse Jackie Baillie's comments. I refer Margaret Ewing to a letter that we received from Tavish Scott some time ago that outlined the details of guideli...
Helen Eadie:
Lab
We should write to the Scottish Executive to ask how it has monitored all the criteria that have been put in place. If there are inconsistencies, the ministe...
The Convener:
Lab
We agree that we have to take up the issue with the Executive. We have a host of questions to ask. I will formulate a letter to the minister that will be acc...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
Can we send it to the Enterprise and Culture Committee as well?
The Convener:
Lab
If you think that that is appropriate. I am not so sure that it is. If the Education Committee and the Environment and Rural Development Committee are consid...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
Okay.
The Convener:
Lab
I thank everyone for their contributions.
Meeting suspended.
On resuming—