6. To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Fife Council regarding the future provision of high schools in Dunfermline. (S4O-05661)

We had contact regarding the future provision of high schools in Dunfermline in April, May, November and December last year.

The most recent contact I had with Fife Council about the matter was from Councillor David Ross, who wrote to me on 28 January. I responded to his letter on 16 February.

Does the minister share my concern that pupils in Woodmill high school in my constituency are being taught in a category C building and that the condition of the school is continuing to deteriorate? In addition to its poor condition, the school is in a rapidly growing area of Dunfermline and is now literally bursting at the seams.

Fife Council is keen to replace the school as soon as possible, but given that no further funding will be available through the schools for the future programme, what is the likelihood of new funding being made available to replace Woodmill high school in the near future?

The member will be aware that there has been a great deal of support from the Scottish Government for Fife Council for a number of building projects. Auchmuty high school, the Buckhaven and Kirkland high schools replacement—Levenmouth academy—and the Waid academy have been supported by £58 million of funding.

I understand that during phase 4 of the schools for the future programme there were no applications from Fife in the final phase, although Waid featured in earlier phases.

Support is there at a national level. I reassure the member that we have had a great deal of success in removing children and young people from category C and D schools. The number of schools in good and satisfactory condition has gone up from the 61 per cent that we inherited in 2007 to 84 per cent now.