In brief...Parents in the Scottish Border campain against education cuts

Parents in the Scottish Borders have stepped up their campaign against education cuts by launching a petition urging the Scottish Executive to hold an inquiry into how the council overspent its education budget by £3.9m. A £1.5m package of cuts means a freeze on recruitment in some areas, a reduction in bursaries and grants, changes in school transport arrangements and cuts in repairs and maintenance. Eileen Prior, a member of the parent group Border Equality in Education, said, 'Every child is going to feel the impact of these cuts, but we are particularly concerned about special needs.'