Chamber and committees

The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (the 2010 Act) sets out the process to be followed if a local authority decides to close a school. This includes the Ministerial call in procedure, which is set out at section 15 of the 2010 Act. Under section 17 of the 2010 Act, the Scottish Ministers may issue a call-in notice only where it appears to them that the education authority have failed (a) in a significant regard to comply with the requirements imposed on it by (or under) this Act so far as they are relevant in relation to the closure proposal, or (b) to take proper account of a material consideration relevant to its decision to implement the proposal.

The Scottish Government believe the differences in interpreting the 2010 Act have resulted in its original intentions - that the educational, not financial, benefits should be the main consideration - not always being followed. The voluntary moratorium and the creation of the Commission on Rural Education recognises the very specific challenges that can face Scotland’s rural communities and the role of many rural schools in providing the focal point for a whole community and ensuring better life chances.

A summary of the 2010 Act, the Ministerial Call In process and associated guidance:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/Buildings/changestoschoolestate

Scottish Ministers and officials meet local authorities on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the school estate.

The social wage is the pact between the politicians, public services and the people of Scotland to deliver the social and economic circumstances for everyone to flourish. This is a social wage that looks beyond salary to the range of services provided by the Scottish Government at a time of financial difficulty for many people.

As a result of the UK Government coalition cuts that are too fast and too deep there will be many across society that will feel the effects of this fall in public spending. Through the social wage the Scottish Government will work to protect those in society that are most vulnerable to the effects of these cuts including job-seekers, students, pupils, parents, carers and patients.

This is a social wage in an age of austerity, designed to deliver a more caring society that protects those most in need, nurturing community endeavour to the benefit of all living in Scotland.

The First Minister made clear, on 26 May 2011, in his statement on Taking Scotland Forward that the social wage is a policy across all public services for the benefit of the people of Scotland. It manifests itself across all areas of Scottish Government activity. This includes protecting Scottish society through measures such as; the freezing of the Council Tax until the end of this Parliament, free University education, no tolls, no tax on ill health, the reforms of the justice system and advancing the partnerships involved in the delivery of care across Scotland.

The achievement and ambition of this policy means developing the Scottish Government's social wage is the responsibility of Cabinet as a whole and not for any one Minister to take forward.

As stated in the response to PE1372, the Scottish Government agrees with Lord Gill’s recommendations in the Scottish Civil Court Review to replace the current tests of title and interest with a single and simpler test.

The Scottish Government intends to take forward Lord Gill’s recommendations as part of a planned programme of reform under its Making Justice Work programme. This will include legislation, beginning in the early years of the Parliament.

The Scottish Government intends to consult on changes to the rules of court regarding protective expenses orders during the course of summer 2011.

In addition to our ongoing capital grant to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the Scottish Government has agreed to make a substantial capital contribution for modernisation of the Glasgow subway. Initial funding will be applied in the current financial year, with at least £6 million of the capital funding to SPT for 2011-12 intended for subway modernisation. This will allow SPT to proceed this year with elements of the modernisation programme, including the upgrading of Hillhead station and the introduction of improved ticketing infrastructure across the network.

The Scottish Government is giving active consideration to how best Scotland can make an input to this summit. Details have not yet been determined but we would be happy to provide the member with an update in due course.

The Scottish Government is giving active consideration to Scotland’s involvement in this summit, but a decision has not yet been taken as to Ministerial representation at the event. We would be happy to update the member in due course.

The Scottish Government acknowledges that there is a need to look at the regulation of letting agents, and will consider this issue as part of the development of a strategy for the private rented sector this year. The strategy will be conducted in partnership with stakeholders represented on the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group.

As part of the group’s consideration of this issue, findings from the soon to be completed national review of the landlord registration system will be examined.