A Scottish council is proposing to bring back charges for music tuition, raising fears the national ban on fees could unravel.
Cash-strapped West Dunbartonshire has proposed charging up to £1,000 a year for one-to-one and small group instrumental music service lessons.
The Labour-run authority admits the plan could be ‘challenged’ as it ‘departs’ from national policy and see ‘talented students missing out’.
When another Scots council levied a £354 charge in 2018, almost 70 per cent of pupils quit.
Councillors will vote on the proposal at their annual budget meeting on Wednesday.
Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: ‘Parents will be furious that music tuition is once again on the chopping block because of SNP underfunding of our councils.
‘While ministers pour millions into expanding welfare, vital opportunities for young people are being squeezed out of local schools.
‘This is the direct consequence of a failed SNP budget that is forcing councils into impossible choices.’
SNP ministers ended charges for instrumental music lessons in 2021 by giving councils £12 million a year to avoid them.
Ayrshire-born violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti and other musicians have campaigned for years in favour of universal free tuition
SNP ministers ended charges for instrument lessons in 2021 by giving councils £12m a year, but one Scottish council is now set to bring them back
It followed Ayrshire-born violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti and other musicians campaigning for years in favour of universal free tuition.
But in a letter to parents, West Dunbartonshire said it faced a £14million funding shortfall.
It said: ‘The introduction of a small charge to pupils wishing to access music tuition will be considered alongside a reduction in the Instrumental Music Service offer, which currently costs the Council more than £450,000 a year to provide.’
Free music tuition is used by 1,014 primary and secondary pupils in West Dunbartonshire.
A detailed ‘savings proposal’ recommended charging £5, £15 or £25 an hour for 40 weeks a year from August 2027.
It admitted this ‘departs from the national policy intent of free access to music education and could be challenged’.
While lower uptake ‘may result in potentially talented students missing out on opportunities to develop their skills due to financial constraints and a possible reduction in the number of students gaining SQA music practical qualifications’.
Although the 22 per cent of music students from families on work benefits would be exempt, the proposal suggests most others would drop out because of charges.
It said an uptake of 10 per cent would raise £20,000 a year within two years with a £5 an hour charge, or £100,000 with a £25 charge.
The policy was forecast to have an especially negative impact on disabled children, low-income families, single parent families and ethnic minority pupils.
Around 70,000 pupils benefit from free music tuition across Scotland.
A spokesman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: ‘In light of a combined budget gap of £14million for 2026/27 across both Council and Health and Social Care Partnership services, officers were asked to develop all viable options to deliver savings this year and in future.
‘No decision will taken on these proposals until they are considered at the Council meeting on 4 March.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government has transformed instrumental music tuition in Scotland’s schools by funding councils to eradicate unfair music tuition charges.
‘This year we have allocated £12 million to support the continued delivery of free instrumental music tuition in schools.
‘The 2026/27 Budget provides Scotland’s councils with record funding of almost £15.7billion, including £253million of fully flexible funding to support local priorities.
