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    • Political Information

    Here you can find the views of political parties at various levels plus motions at The Scottish Parliament regarding rural primary school closures throughout Scotland.

    The Scottish Parliament - Parliamentary Bureau Motions

    You might find that the items highlighted in red below are particularly worth reading.

    Date Motion MSP Description
      S2W-7851 Colin Fox Oral question to be answered
    27/04/2004 Numerous Rhona Brankin Rhona has had a number of written questions answered by Peter Peacock, Minister for Education and Young People.
    01/04/2004 S2O-1827 Rhona Brankin Rural Schools
    29/03/2004 S2M-1111 Fiona Hyslop Presumption Against Closure of Rural Schools - Code of Guidance
    25/03/2004 S2M-1003 Christine Grahame School Closures (Borders)
    25/03/2004 S2O-1704 Christine Grahame Rural Schools (Support)
    25/03/2004 S2O-1892 Colin Fox Oral question to be answered 01/04/2004
    25/03/2004 S2O-1886 Fiona Hyslop Oral question to be answered 01/04/2004
    25/03/2004 S2O-1827 Rhona Brankin Oral question to be answered 01/04/2004
    24/03/2004 S2M-1086 Rhona Brankin Proposed Midlothian Primary School Closures
    22/03/2004 S2M-1070 Lord James
    Douglas-Hamilton    		 Proposed Closure of Five Primary Schools in Midlothian
    18/03/2004 S2O-1561 Fiona Hyslop Public Private Partnerships
    15/03/2004 S2M-1035 Robin Harper Proposed Closure of Midlothian Primary Schools
    05/03/2004 S2M-1003 Christine Grahame Crisis for Borders Schools
    04/03/2004 S2O-1432 Lord James
    Douglas-Hamilton    		 Primary School Closures (Midlothian)
    26/02/2004 S2M-943 Alex Johnstone Young People

    The Scottish Parliament - Party Leaders and Midlothian MSPs

    The leaders of all of the main political parties and MSPs for Midlothian have been invited to give us their views for publication here. All responses so far are listed below, more will be added as we receive them.
    Date MSP Party Response
    30/04/2004 Rhona Brankin
    Midlothian    		 Labour Submitted this letter to Midlothian Council.
    30/04/2004 Fiona Hyslop
    Lothians    		 SNP Submitted this letter to Midlothian Council.
    01/04/2004 Jack McConnell
    First Minister    		 Labour Jack McConnell passed our request on to Nicola Radley, Scottish Executive Education Department.
    31/03/2004 John Swinney
    Shadow First
    Minister    		 SNP John Swinney offered to meet representatives of MRSAG to discuss our campaign.
    19/03/2004 Colin Fox
    Lothians    		 SSP I am completely opposed to any proposed closures that parents, staff or pupils believe will result in the loss of services to the community and am happy to add my support to any campaign that is being organised in the community. I believe that schools remain at the heart of rural communities. My colleague, Rosemary Byrne MSP, who represents the South of Scotland has written on our behalf to Donald MacKay, Director of Education in Midlothian and to Peter Peacock, Minister for Education, to register our concerns.
    19/03/2004 Tommy Sheridan SSP Thank you for your message which I have forwarded to Colin Fox, our Socialist MSP for your area and he will respond to you as soon as he can.
    16/03/2004 Kenny MacAskill
    Lothians    		 SNP I share your concerns and disagree with the proposals to close any school in Midlothian. I have passed on your communication to my colleague Fiona Hyslop MSP. As well as being a list MSP for the Lothians, she is the Education Spokesperson for the SNP and will be taking up this issue directly with the Minister for Education.
    12/03/2004 Robin Harper
    Lothians    		 Green Robin has raised a parliamentary bureau motion :
    Proposed Closure of Midlothian Primary Schools
    11/03/2004 Fiona Hyslop
    Lothians    		 SNP Fiona responded by letter.
    11/03/2004 Lord James
    Douglas-Hamilton
    Lothians    		 Cons. Lord James will take up your representations with the Director of Education, Midlothian Council.
    08/03/2004 Rhona Brankin
    Midlothian    		 Labour Rhona issued a press release on her views.

    UK Government Views

    MPs in Westminister have expressed their views over the years.
    Date Party Response
    20/03/1998 Brian Wilson
    Labour    		 Brian Wilson issued this press release when he was Scottish Education Minister

    Other political views

    Members of various political parties in Midlothian have also been making their views known in the press and via this website.
    Date Party Response
    25/04/2004 Colin Beattie
    SNP Midlothian
    Spokesperson    		 Colin sent us an email advising of the support shown at the SNP Spring Conference.
    11/03/2004 Willie Duncan
    SSP Midlothian
    Spokesperson    		 Willie submitted a letter to The Advertiser - Opposing closures
    10/03/2004 Colin Beattie
    SNP Midlothian
    Press Officer    		 Colin submitted feedback via this website.
    24/02/2004 Scottish
    Conservatives    		 Link to the Scottish Conservatives press release.

    Last Updated : 30 March 2005