The Scottish Government and local councils have now completed 200 new or refurbished schools in the period April 2007 to March 2009, according to figures from the Scottish Parliamentary Library (SPICe).

Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a further 36 had been completed since then and the total of 236 compared with 205 during the four years of the previous parliamentary term.

She said: "This government inherited a legacy of 260,000 pupils in poor or bad condition schools. In just two and a half years that number has dropped by 100,000.

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"We have now passed two important new milestones. As a result of at least 2 billion pounds of major investment in the school estate over the period 2007-12, Spice figures confirm we have passed the 200 new or refurbished schools mark. Whats more, with an additional 36 new or refurbished schools completed since March we have exceeded the number delivered during the entire four years of the previous administration.

"The pace of building under this government has made this possible, with new and refurbished schools being delivered at a rate of 1.2 schools per week over our four year term, compared with just 0.76 schools per week over the previous eight years."

Ms Hyslop said the pace will not be allowed to slow. Only last week the government announced the secondary element of the first tranche of an additional £1.25 billion investment in Scotlands schools, in partnership with Scotlands local councils.

(GK/BMcC)