SCOTLAND'S Education Secretary John Swinney has taken the leader of Scottish Borders Council to task over funding allegations made regarding Peebles High School.

As we reported last week both Shona Haslam and her Conservative colleague Carol Hamilton hit out at, what they claimed was, a rejection from Holyrood of financial support.

Although an education department spokeswoman at the Scottish Government, as well as local MSP Christine Grahame, refuted the claims, Mr Swinney has written to express his own disappointment.

And in his correspondence, he also reiterated his commitment to working with both the council and broader Peebles community following November's fire.

In his letter to Ms Haslam the Deputy First Minister wrote: "I am writing to you regarding comments attributed to you in recent media reporting about funding to repair the recent fire damage at Peebles High School.

"I wish, in particular, to correct certain inaccuracies in your reported comments.

"You are reported as stating that requests have been made by the council to the Scottish Government for funding to repair the school.

"For the avoidance of doubt, to date no formal request for capital funding to repair Peebles High School has been received by the Scottish Government.

"In any event, our understanding is that the local authority has in place insurance to cover the capital costs of fire damage to the school.

"If the council decides to make a formal request for exceptional capital funding from the Scottish Government, I will wish to understand the detailed insurance arrangements the council has in place for these eventualities, along with an explanation of why you feel that those arrangements are inadequate to cope with the capital costs of repair.

"Please ensure that such information is provided in any such communications."

According to budget proposals published this week by the ruling administration at Scottish Borders Council, around £30 million is to be spent over the next three years to build a replacement Peebles High.

And only around £10 million will come from an insurance settlement.

The additional money, it is understood, will come from borrowing linked to the proposed council tax increase.

Mr Swinney confirmed in his letter to Ms Haslam that help is available from the Scottish Government.

He added: "I am aware that there is good, constructive joint working ongoing between our officials to help minimise disruption to the pupils, teachers and community of Peebles High School.

"This has included initial discussions about the potential for the council to put forward its priorities for investment through the £1bn Learning Estate Investment Programme.

"This programme, which is jointly overseen by the Scottish Government and COSLA, has been designed to support councils to meet the costs of improvements to the school estate.

"It is a revenue-funding outcomes model, which helps to incentivise local authorities and their partners to achieve certain jointly agreed outcomes set out in the joint Scottish Government/COSLA Learning Estate Strategy, and to ensure the maintenance of the school estate in future years.

"It is not accurate to describe this, as you reportedly do, as 'some help with running costs when the school is open'.

"Any formal request from Scottish Borders Council for funding under the Learning Estate Investment Programme will be considered jointly in the first instance by the Scottish Government and COSLA, in line with the programme’s requirements.

"Thereafter, proposals that meet the requirements will be submitted to Scottish Ministers for final decision.

"Let me reiterate that I am fully committed to working in partnership with the local community in Peebles to deal with the consequences of the fire at the High School.

"I hope that you will be willing henceforth to play a constructive role in this work."