MSPs support greater rights for children

Published on Wednesday 20 May 2009 21:29

LAWS giving greater rights to children needing additional support in school were backed today by MSPs.

The Scottish Parliament voted unanimously for the bill, despite complaints from Labour that the government had stifled debate on some issues.

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill allows parents to make placement requests for their children outwith the local area. It also gives parents the right to appeal against any refusal.

Children's minister Adam Ingram said the bill will "fix deficiencies" in legislation from 2004 and "strengthen the rights" of children with additional support needs and their parents.

"The key issues were properly addressed by this parliament," he said, and denied that the SNP had prevented debate on some measures."

Labour's Karen Whitefield, convener of Holyrood's education, lifelong learning and culture committee, supported the bill.

But she said amendments that would have created a right for parents to receive support and advocacy had been blocked.