WHEN The Scottish Parliament returns next month equality will be high on the agenda.

Closing the attainment gap in education is something all parties are agreed requires action.

A new tax and welfare system is to be designed with new powers coming to Holyrood from Westminster and a fairer, dignified, equal system is the objective.

The Scottish Government will continue to push for more employers to pay the Living Wage and some of the other parties will push for it to be paid to all workers.

All of this is worthwhile and has the potential to improve lives for the better and help create a much fairer Scotland.

However another story this week has raised the equality question and the sheer lack of self-awareness of some people in society.

The Duke of Westminster, the third wealthiest man in Britain, passed away this week and his estate will pass to his 25 year-old son, Hugh Grosvenor.

Some are rather miffed that Hugh inherits the whole estate, which includes 100,000 acres of Scotland, thought to be worth £8.3bn.

Yes 8.3bn. As I said the Scottish Government will embark on a campaign to reduce the attainment gap and its total education budget is £2.8bn.

So young Shug inherits a fortune of around three times what this country can spend on educating its people in a year.

What has this got to do with equality?

Well, some lady aristocrats are choking on their crustless cucumber sandwiches because Hugh has two older sisters.

They, Lady Tamara, 36 and Lady Edwina, 34, will have to make do with a well-stocked trust fund as will younger sister, Lady Viola.

This some believe is inequality. So much so that a bill with the unintentionally ironic title Equality Bill was introduced to Westminster a few years ago.

It would have, following the change that now allows a first born female heir inherit the throne, have ended primogeniture among the aristocracy and allow women to inherit vast fortunes by nature of their birth, instead of their brothers.

The deceased Duke gave consistently to charity and was said to be uncomfortable with his wealth.

Perhaps so. However I’d be willing to bet that his discomfort is nothing to the discomfort brought on by being born into a life of poverty.

He is quoted as saying his life would be better if was to sell up and move to the Bahamas but it would not be the responsible thing to do.

So, the late Duke was trapped in a life of wealth and privilege and now his young son will have to bear that responsibility.

If only society could break that cursed cycle of intergenerational riches.

Back to education and the Duke left school with two O levels. Now, those who opened their results this week who gained the modern day equivalent will likely face a rather different future.

The Duke of Westminster and the Grosvenor family are obviously at the extreme end of wealth but it illustrates the startling and grotesque inequality at the heart of our country.