In this week's Local Government and Communities Committee we were scrutinising the government's draft budget. I took the opportunity to question Finance Secretary Derek Mackay over the unintended consequences of removing charitable status from independent nurseries and schools.
Like Mr Mackay, I believe all children should receive the best education possible. My concern over the changes to rates for the independent sector is the influx of pupils into the state sector, with local authorities already seeing cuts and struggling to recruit enough teachers into the profession.