I recognise Brian Whittle’s interest in the matter, and I will pass his request on to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. It is, of course, for individual councils to make decisions about their own provision, albeit in a context in which music education is a core part of the curriculum and there is equity of access to instrumental music tuition. Scottish Government officials have engaged with East Ayrshire Council, which has provided assurances that it is not its intention to reintroduce charging and that the move is, in fact, designed to protect the service from potential cuts to education. I understand that the council has indicated that pupils will continue to have music under the school curriculum, and it has insisted that there are no plans to introduce a two-tier tuition model that separates SQA tuition from non-SQA tuition. Clearly, we will be looking for those undertakings to be delivered.

I hope that that offers Mr Whittle the reassurance that he is understandably seeking, and I will pass his request on to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.