Debate in the Scottish Parliament on the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Friday, 11 October 2019 11:01
Debate in the Scottish Parliament on the general principles of the
Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill, introduced on 25 March 2019
Extracts 16.22 pm Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green): ...Other changes
that we will be seeking include either removing the exemption that
is granted in the bill for specialist Music schools that
are in the private sector, or retaining it but also applying it to
the four specialist Music schools that are in the public
sector, such as the City of...Request free trial
Debate in the Scottish Parliament on the general principles of the
Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill, introduced on 25 March 2019
Extracts
16.22 pm
(Lothian)
(Green): ...Other changes that we will be
seeking include either removing the exemption that is granted in
the bill for specialist Music schools that are in the private
sector, or retaining it but also applying it to the four
specialist Music schools that are in the public
sector, such as the City of Edinburgh Music school.
16:32
(Cunninghame North)
(SNP): ...Independent schools with charitable status are
currently entitled to 80 per cent mandatory relief from
non-domestic rates. I agree with the majority of committee
members, who considered that all independent schools should pay
rates and should no longer be able to claim charitable relief.
Not only would that end an unfair and unequal practice in
relation to state schools; it would generate more revenue for
councils to spend on local services. I simply do not accept that
independent schools would suffer, because the impact on fees
would be only around 1.3 per cent across the sector—far less than
that of recent teachers’ salary and pension changes. I believe
that that approach should apply to the entire independent sector.
It is simply anomalous and inconsistent to exempt one music
school from paying rates.
16:36
(Mid Scotland and Fife)
(Con): ...I entirely agree with what said about there being
serious anomalies in respect of treatment of specialist music
schools.
16:55
(Highlands and Islands)
(Lab): ...While there are
independent schools providing specialist musical tuition, there
are the same types of schools in the public sector, such
as Scotland’s national centres of
excellence. I should perhaps register an interest, as I am a
former pupil of Plockton high school, which is now a centre of
excellence in traditional music. It was not when I was there—and
I cannot sing a note, so that is perhaps just as well. In any
case, we will consider lodging amendments to strengthen that part
of the bill.
17:06
(Central Scotland)
(Con): There was a proposal to make
one exception to amending the status of independent schools and
it involved specialist music schools. However, there is only one
such school in the sector: St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh.
There was no logic to that proposal and I wonder what or who lay
behind it.
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