EDUCATION SPENDING SOARS UNDER SNP.

EDUCATION SPENDING SOARS UNDER SNP.

OFFICIAL FIGURES SHOW EDUCATION BUDGETS UP £366 MILLION UNDER SNP,

SNP COUNCILS LEAD INVESTMENT IN SCOTLAND’S SCHOOLS,

LABOUR GLASGOW CUTS SPENDING ON SCHOOLS,

Official statistics published today show the amount of money spent by local authorities on education has increased dramatically under the SNP and is expected to increase further this year.

The figures released today show that local authority education budgets will have increased by an average of 8.3% or £366 million between 2008 and 2010 under the SNP Government.

The figures for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years also show that the average increase is higher in SNP led councils. In contrast Labour’s largest council is cutting spending by £7 million.

The figures which show provisional out turn spending for the last financial year and expected spend for the current financial year emphasise the SNP’s commitment to delivering a better education for Scotland’s children.

· From 2008 -2010 spending on education in Scotland will have increased by £366 million or 8.3%
· Spending in 2008-09 increased by 5.5% and is expected to increase by at least 2.6 % in 2009 -10
· SNP led councils show the highest average increase with an average 10.2% increase over two years – compared with an 8.8% increase in Labour led councils.

· Glasgow plans to cut spending by £7 million next year

SNP MSP and Deputy Convener of the Education Committee Kenneth Gibson said;

“These official statistics show the SNP’s real commitment to education in Scotland.

“It is now undeniable that education spending in Scotland has increased under the SNP Scottish Government as we invest in Scotland's future generations.

“It is also clear that SNP Council’s are leading the way with average increases of over 10%.

“After two years of misinformation and scaremongering from opposition parties we now have clear evidence that education budgets in Scotland are on the up under the SNP with above inflation increases.”

ENDS

1. The figures can be found at; http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/06093528/0
2. Over two years the eight continuously SNP-led councils are increasing spending by an average of 10.2%. This compares with 8.8% by the ten Labour-led councils.

3. (SNP Councils from 2008 to now - P & K, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, West Lothian, Fife, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire),

(Labour Councils from 2008 to now - East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Clacks, S.Lanarkshire,Inverclyde, N.Ayrshire. N.Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Glasgow.)