MSPs are to call in the charity watchdog for questioning about a proposal to strip private schools of their charitable status.
Charitable status allows private schools to claim an 80% discount on non-domestic rates, pay no corporation tax and claim gift aid on tax donations while state schools pay the full tax liability, Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee has heard.
This allows private Fettes College in Edinburgh, which counts former Labour prime minister Tony Blair amongst its alumni, to pay just £41,828 tax while nearby Wester Hailes school, where two-fifths of pupils receive free school meals, pays its full tax liability of £261,873, the committee heard.
This amounts to a "taxpayer-funded subsidy of £167,311" to Fettes, with other private schools receiving similar benefits, according to petitioner Ashley Husband Powton.
Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw, who attended private Glasgow Academy, told Ms Powton to contain her "polemic" and consider the impact the loss of charitable status would have on community groups which use private school facilities.
But SNP MSP Angus MacDonald, who attended the private Keil School in Dumbarton, said Ms Husband Powton's argument had caused him to reconsider his once "vociferous" opposition to stripping private schools of their charitable status.
The committee has agreed to call in the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator for their views on the proposal.
They will also write to the Scottish Government, council umbrella body Cosla, the Scottish Council for Independent Schools and the Educational Institute of Scotland for further guidance.
Ms Husband Powton said: "Scotland's most elite private schools charge fees in excess of £30,000 a year.
"For example, Fettes College is £10,060 times three for three terms.
"To put this in context, the average pay in Scotland is £26,472. A cleaner earns an average of £8,000 a year, a care worker £12,000, a bus driver £23,000, a nurse £26,000.
"So, it is undeniable that for the vast majority of the Scottish population the privilege of a private school education is far outwith their reach.
"It's impossible to argue that access to these schools is not unduly restrictive, given the staggering tens of thousands of fees that they demand."
Mr Carlaw said the removal of charitable status could lead to the potential loss of access to private school facilities to thousands of community groups who currently use the grounds.
Ms Husband Powton said: "I do not doubt for a second that private schools without charitable status would still have enough money to provide these services if they so wished.
"The provision of community services like bursaries cannot be allowed to mitigate what is the overwhelmingly negative role of these schools in society."
Mr Carlaw said: "The polemic is entertaining but it would be helpful if you just contained yourself to answering the questions, rather than giving us your general political philosophy.
"You haven't visited the schools, you're not clear whether community groups who might lose access - what their opinion would be, you're not clear how the Scottish Government would fund it."
Mr MacDonald said: "When it was discussed within my party I was quite vociferous against removing charitable status, but I have to say having read your submission you do present a very strong argument for the issue.
"Particularly when you consider the difference between your example of Wester Hailes, which is an area of high deprivation where 40% require school meals."
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