Published: Wednesday, 3rd September, 2008 12:30pm

Rural schools protected under Government plans

THE Scottish Government has brought forward legislative proposals that would ensure a presumption against rural school closures.

The development today (Wednesday) would see an end to a pattern of school closures initiated by successive administrations at Scottish Borders Council.

An estimated 40% of primary schools and around a quarter of secondary schools in Scotland are in rural areas.

Christine Grahame MSP has welcomed the announcement made by the First Ministers and said: 'Under the previous Liberal/Labour administration over 50 rural schools were closed, undermining local communities and leading to less sustainable populations in the Borders and elsewhere.

'The trend in rural school closures was of great concern to the SNP and the new Scottish Government. I am delighted Scottish Ministers are pressing on with ensuring that trend is halted.

'I am sure that will be a disappointment to Scottish Borders Council who have failed to protect our rural communities and ensure education is provided locally and in a sustainable manner, but the new Rural Schools Bill will give the protection local communities have been demanding for years.

'The Conservatives party at the Scottish Parliament has stated it supports this development, a commitment yet to be matched by those Conservative Councillors now in power at SBC."

Ms Grahame also gave a warm welcome to a new Government bill that will remove the unfair Council tax and replace it with a more equitable system of local taxation based on peoples" ability to pay.

Ms Grahame added: 'The abolition of the discredited Council tax will lift thousands of Borderers out of poverty and provide a vital financial boost to low and middle income earners across the Borders.

'It will effectively be the biggest tax cut in a generation and eight out of every ten families in the Borders will be better off as a result of it.

'I would challenge any of the opposition parties in the Borders who may stand in the way of the overwhelming benefits that will flow to thousands of Borderers if they try and block the abolition of the Council Tax, that they do so at their own peril. I am certain the electorate would judge harshly any MSP or political party that would oppose the Scottish Government"s proposals to scrap the Council Tax.'

The SNP Government has also moved to develop record investment in the country"s transport infrastructure, brought forward plans to invest more money in affordable housing and underlined its commitment to a greener Scotland by introducing legislation that will ensure Scotland"s emissions are reduced by 80% by 2050.

In the justice field the Scottish Government has already recruited 150 new police officers and this year has funded the recruitment for an additional 450 new officers putting it well on target to have an extra 1000 new police officers on the streets by 2011.

Additional legislation will be brought forward that will enhance health provision across the Borders and the rest of Scotland.

Ms Grahame, who is Convener of the Parliament"s Health Committee said: 'The Government is determined to improve the health of the nation and we are seeing the benefits of that determination now. Just last week we saw an all-time low in waiting times at Accident and Emergency both across Scotland and in the Borders and this week Scottish Ministers moved to introduce to vaccinations for cervical cancer for every girl under 18.

'Scottish Ministers have also taken forward the proposals I introduced on the sale of tobacco to better control its availability. Tobacco plays a significant role in health inequality and is a major cause of cancer, heart disease and strokes. The Scottish Government"s Health Bill will control the availability and promotion of tobacco and introduce a tobacco sales registration scheme. It will also restrict the display of tobacco products in shops. Overall an extra £9m will be spent over the next three years to support local government and the NHS to deliver measures that will reduce smoking related illness and death.'

Ms Grahame said that the legislative programme outlined by the First Minister demonstrated a real commitment to the whole of Scottish society and that has been completely lacking from previous administrations.

She added: 'This legislative programme shows that Scotland faces numerous challenges, but this Scottish Government is capable of meeting those head on and building a solid and robust platform to ensure long-term economic growth, long-term investment in health and education and a firm commitment to a future that will benefit every Borderer and every Scot.'

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