To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide to the community on Mull regarding whether learning estate investment programme funding can be used flexibly to support both the construction of a new high school in Craignure and the refurbishment of the existing site in Tobermory for nursery and primary provision. (S6O-04106)

I can provide the member with a direct assurance that, in the learning estate investment programme, there is a wide range of locations, including remote sites, and a variety of school types, including campuses and stand-alone schools, new builds, extensions and refurbishments, depending on the needs of different communities.

Initial discussions with Argyll and Bute Council are based on the LEIP’s policy of like-for-like replacement funding, but they also recognise the specific circumstances of the existing Tobermory campus and, for example, the likely increased costs due to the island location. LEIP funding based on like-for-like assessment could potentially support the construction of a new high school in Craignure and the refurbishment or replacement of the existing site in Tobermory for nursery and primary provision, if that is deemed to be the best option. Any additional costs arising from not pursuing a like-for-like approach would have to be borne by the council. We will continue to work with the council to support the development of that project.

I am raising the issue because the community has come to me. Unfortunately, this is another example of island communities feeling that their voices are unheard and that their very particular challenges are overlooked. The special islands needs allowance is supposed to recognise the increased cost of delivering services to island communities, but it has dwindled due to a failure to link that cost to inflation. Will the Scottish Government seek to address that unfairness?

First, I very much recognise that certain members of the community feel strongly that a split-site option, with early years and primary remaining in Tobermory and a new secondary school being built on a site in a more central island location, would mean that families would no longer need to send their children to Oban. I recognise the unique circumstances that the member speaks to.

The member highlighted the special islands needs allowance. Responsibility for that does not rest within my portfolio, but I am more than happy to write to her directly on that, although I suspect that another Minister will respond to her on that ask.

I go back to my original response in relation to the flexibility of LEIP funding. If Argyll and Bute Council decides that a two-site option is best for its community, there is currently flexibility in the LEIP fund to reallocate the funding from a single campus to the two-site proposal, but additional costs would have to be borne by the local authority.