LABOUR’S EDUCATION CUTS EXPOSED

LABOUR’S EDUCATION CUTS EXPOSED

TALE OF TWO GOVERNMENTS CONTINUES

Commenting on Treasury documents reported in the Telegraph today (Thursday) which reveal that Labour will cut the education budget by £100 million SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson – the vice-convener of the Scottish Parliament’s education committee – said it exposed labour’s cuts agenda as well as highlighting the different approach taken in Scotland which has shown that the amount of money spent by local authorities on education has increased dramatically under the SNP.

Figures released earlier this month in Scotland showed that local authority education budgets have increased by an average of 8.3% or £366 million between 2008 and 2010 under the SNP Government; and the figures for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years also show that the average increase is higher in SNP led councils.

This contrasts with Labour’s largest council in Glasgow which – like their counterparts south of the border - is cutting spending on education (in this case by £7 million).

Commenting Mr Gibson said;

“Today’s report just exposes Labour’s cant about education spending in Scotland. It is their party which cuts spending on educating our children and it is under an SNP government and councils that investment in our children’s education is increasing.

“It is a clear case of a tale of two governments with official statistics showing the SNP’s real commitment to education in Scotland compared to a Labour government’s cuts agenda.

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

“And we also have clear evidence that it is Labour which is cutting education funding in Glasgow with their school closures programme. Something that will not be lost on the voters of Glasgow North East.”