ABSTRACT
The organisation of school education in Scotland has been greatly simplified since the early years of the Scottish Education Department. This chapter describes how the education authorities organise themselves to carry out their functions. Beyond approval of the authority’s general scheme of educational provision, the only functions formally laid on the Secretary of State by statute in relation to school building are the approval of the plans of all new buildings and major alterations and extensions, the recognition of the work as qualifying for grant, and the sanctioning of the necessary financial borrowing by the authority. Each education authority operates a promotion scheme approved by the Secretary of State showing the methods it proposes to adopt. In addition to the midday meal, authorities can provide light meals, breakfasts and teas, fixing a reasonable charge for these and remitting it where there would be financial hardship.
