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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tories urge rural schools action | Tories urge rural schools action |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Conservatives are attempting to push the Scottish Government on action to reduce rural school closures. | The Conservatives are attempting to push the Scottish Government on action to reduce rural school closures. |
| Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser wants a presumption against shutting rural schools, a policy which was an SNP manifesto pledge. | Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser wants a presumption against shutting rural schools, a policy which was an SNP manifesto pledge. |
| A member's bill brought by Mr Fraser would see plans to close schools being referred from councils to ministers. | A member's bill brought by Mr Fraser would see plans to close schools being referred from councils to ministers. |
| The government said it was on track to hold a consultation on its plans for rural schools in the spring. | The government said it was on track to hold a consultation on its plans for rural schools in the spring. |
| Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop will hold talks with Mr Fraser as part of the process, as well as meetings with other relevant groups. | |
| We know that if communities lose their school, that's another nail in the coffin Murdo FraserScottish Tory deputy leader | We know that if communities lose their school, that's another nail in the coffin Murdo FraserScottish Tory deputy leader |
| Following high-profile school closure cases in Moray and the Scottish Borders, Mr Fraser said he would welcome government backing for the proposals, whether ministers supported his bill or brought forward their own legislation. | Following high-profile school closure cases in Moray and the Scottish Borders, Mr Fraser said he would welcome government backing for the proposals, whether ministers supported his bill or brought forward their own legislation. |
| The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said small, rural schools had been under pressure from local authorities seeking to close them, often for financial reasons. | The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said small, rural schools had been under pressure from local authorities seeking to close them, often for financial reasons. |
| "These are communities that have perhaps lost, in recent years, their filling station, their local shop, they're perhaps losing their post office," he said. | "These are communities that have perhaps lost, in recent years, their filling station, their local shop, they're perhaps losing their post office," he said. |
| "We know that if communities lose their school, that's another nail in the coffin. | "We know that if communities lose their school, that's another nail in the coffin. |
| "This is about sustaining our rural communities as much as it is about maintaining high levels of education." | "This is about sustaining our rural communities as much as it is about maintaining high levels of education." |
| Mr Fraser's proposals, which would also bring in central funding to save threatened schools, have been backed by a campaign group, the Rural Schools Network, and the Moray Forum, which represents parents in the north of Scotland. | Mr Fraser's proposals, which would also bring in central funding to save threatened schools, have been backed by a campaign group, the Rural Schools Network, and the Moray Forum, which represents parents in the north of Scotland. |