Green MSP Ross Greer says £1m of public money goes to the private St Mary's school for funded places.

St Mary's Music School , external is an independent music school in Edinburgh.

Mr Greer asks what assessment has been made of the benefit of funding this private school.

Mr Swinney explains there is an assessment of the impact of this funding, but Mr Greer argues there does not seem to be one.

Image source, bbc

The Green MSP highlights evidence given by Linlithgow Academy pupil and MSYP Alice Ferguson to the committee, who said: “It is only the privileged that are getting to do music now - it’s like Victorian times, where only the elite get these opportunities. This increases inequality”.

He asks if funding a private music school while music tuition is cut in state schools is an example of "Victorian levels of inequality".

I don't really see a connection between the two to be honest, replies Mr Swinney.

The education secretary says St Mary's school has been a centre of music excellence that has long seen funding from the public purse.

He points out Broughton High School is also supported.

The government has judged it would not be appropriate to stop funding to St Mary's school, he adds.

Charging pupils for music tuition means only the "elite" can afford to learn to play an instrument while poorer children miss out, MSPs have heard.

School music tuition remains free in some council areas, while others charge more than £500 a year.

School pupil Alice Ferguson told a Holyrood committee that her school band had lost members because they could no longer afford music lessons.

And she said charging for music tuition was "increasing inequality".

Read more here.

Labour MSP Iain Gray asks whether Mr Swinney is "content" or "concerned" about the variation in music tuition across the country.

The education secretary says have access to music tuition is advantageous for young people.

He accepts there is a risk about the dangers of stigma around free school meals and how this links to music.

The Youth Music Initiative is designed to allow young people with an interest and aptitude to continue with an instrument, Mr Swinney adds.

Image source, Getty Images

The number of children receiving musical instrument tuition in Scotland's schools has dropped by more than 1,200 over the past year.

The figure coincides with more local authorities starting to charge for lessons, or increasing their charges.

There has also been a big drop in the number of tutors in schools since 2007.

In the first recorded fall in instrumental pupil numbers, the figure dropped from 61,615 in 2016/17, to 60,326 in 2017/18.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Education Secretary John Swinney gets us underway by stressing the benefits of participating in music and the arts for children.

Mr Swinney says he understands and shares the concerns of children and parents about this issue.

He explains local authorities make the decisions about how to provide music tuition.

The education secretary says there is a working group looking at making sure music tuition is accessible.

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The committee will now quiz:

• Education Secretary John Swinney
• Malcolm Pentland from the Scottish government

Mr Scott says in policy terms COSLA are not arguing for ring-fenced funds for music tution.

He says they are arguing for an increase in core funding and that it is down to councils to allocate those funds.

Mr McCabe concurs.

Mr McCabe says councils are not just looking at fees, but other savings which may result in a reduction in the number of music tutors.

If you are concerned about cuts to essential services, I would encourage you to give local government a fair settlement in the coming months he tells MSPs.

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott points out the Scottish Budget is scheduled for next Wednesday.

Lauren Bruce of COSLA says music comes from local authorities' core budgets, and core budgets have reduced in recent years.

Because of ring-fencing, the savings local government has to make can only be taken from 42% of the budget which comes to councils she explains.

So these savings end up being cuts to things like music tuition, Mr Bruce adds.

Ms Smith says there are serious concerns that many youngsters are being excluded and are not taking up music tuition.

Mr McCabe reiterates his point that SQA exam charges will not be passed on to parents, citing a letter to Midlothian Council.

He points out the hard choices councils are having to make, for example having to cut youth services or swimming lessons.

The real terms cut in block grants to councils and the council tax freeze have led to councils having to cut many services, Mr McCabe insists.

Tory MSP Liz Smith points to a Herald article which highlighted Midlothian Council has become to first the pass on the costs, external for Higher and Advanced Higher music.

Cllr Stephen McCabe explains the council took the decision to have schools use their own devolved budgets for this purpose.

Ms Smith suggests this is at odds with not charging for SQA qualifications.

Mr McCabe insists there will not be charges for exams, as schools will find the funding in their own budgets.

Image source, bbc

Eddie Follan, COSLA, says progress has been made with the review of guidance but he accepts more can be done.

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan argues the strong view of students from the Royal Conservatoire, external that pledges were not being lived up to and with concerns about qualifications and tuition.

Cllr McCabe reiterates his point that the guidance is clear that the minimum criteria should be eligibility for free school meals, but that it is up to individual councils.

Mr Follan points out a lot of councils go further than the minimum criteria.

Mr McCabe says the guidance has to be approved by COSLA's board.

Labour MSP Iain Gray asks about funding being provided by central government to ensure music tuition was free.

Cllr McCabe says if the offer of money was on the table, councils would choose whatever is in their best interest.

He points to the school clothing grant as an example of how central and local government has worked positively together.

But he insists these solutions are a "sticking plaster" and the "fundamental problems is the chronic underfunding of local government".

Charging pupils for music tuition means only the "elite" can afford to learn to play an instrument while poorer children miss out, MSPs have heard.

School music tuition remains free in some council areas, while others charge more than £500 a year.

School pupil Alice Ferguson told a Holyrood committee that her school band had lost members because they could no longer afford music lessons.

And she said charging for music tuition was "increasing inequality".

Read more here.

Councillor Stephen McCabe of COSLA says the minimum criteria in any guidance on music tuition would be that families with children who qualify for free school meals should get free tuition as a minimum.

Mr McCabe says he is sure that councils like West Lothian "agonised for hours" over tough decisions

He says: "It's the chronic underfunding of local government over the last 10 years that this parliament has presided over."

I would like music tuition to be free to every young person in Scotland, but councils cannot sustain what was previously free he explains.

Mr McCabe says his council, Inverclyde, has a fairly limited approach to charging but has had to make other hard decisions to protect music tuition.

Image source, Getty Images

The number of children receiving musical instrument tuition in Scotland's schools has dropped by more than 1,200 over the past year.

The figure coincides with more local authorities starting to charge for lessons, or increasing their charges.

There has also been a big drop in the number of tutors in schools since 2007.

In the first recorded fall in instrumental pupil numbers, the figure dropped from 61,615 in 2016/17, to 60,326 in 2017/18.

Read more.

Cllr Stephen McCabe says COSLA must respect and protect the ability of councillors to make decisions based on local priorities.

Music tuition is widely regarded as important but it must be for individual councils for decide on fees, he adds.

We are making every effort to ensure access to music tuition for those in low-income households, while continuing to respect local decision making and reflecting the financial situation he says.