At the Glenrothes by-election, the First Minister made himself look foolish over his "Yes we can" sloganising - the voters there decisively decided "no they can't." Another example of SNP "Yes we can" claims turning out to be little more than hot air has been the nationalists' promise of replacing PPP capital funding for schools building projects. The SNP government has wasted the last two years in inactivity as new school building projects across Scotland have slowed - as LibDem Education Spokesperson in the Scottish Parliament, Margaret Smith MSP, called it "the two-year Hyslop gap and paralysis in planning."Yesterday, the SNP government announced that it was planning 55 new schools, but what was abundantly clear from Tavish Scott's questioning of Alex Salmond at First Minister's Questions today is that the detail is sketchy to say the least. Just as Alex Salmond can provide no reassurances for his own constituents about funding a new school for Inverurie, there is no detail as to if and by how much Dundee will benefit from such additional funding and the speed with which funding will be delivered. Schools like Harris Academy desparately need this funding to provide facilities fit for 21st century teaching.
I reproduce below a news release I issued today following my contacting senior finance staff in the City Council about the issue :
NEWS RELEASE : Councillor raises questions over Scottish Futures Trust
Following yesterday’s announcement by Scottish Government over schools funding, Dundee City Council LibDem Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, has written to the City Council’s top finance officers seeking clarification as to if and how quickly Dundee can benefit from any further capital funding to undertake further improvements to Dundee’s schools estate.
Writing to the Council’s Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and Head of Finance, Cllr Macpherson asks, “Is there any indication of the method by which Scottish Government will choose the schools to be included, a bidding process and criteria and if level playing field or similar support is to be offered?”
Cllr Macpherson said there was significant concern that it had taken the SNP government two years to get this far with the Scottish Futures Trust which has thus far funded nothing, and he was very critical of the delays that had held up capital building projects. He said, “It is now vital that we finally get some clarity as to the detailed working arrangements for the Scottish Futures Trust, the extent to which Dundee will benefit from further capital investment and which schools can be improved and how quickly.
“There has been far too much delay and we need to see clarity and action from government as soon as possible,” he concluded.
Following yesterday’s announcement by Scottish Government over schools funding, Dundee City Council LibDem Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, has written to the City Council’s top finance officers seeking clarification as to if and how quickly Dundee can benefit from any further capital funding to undertake further improvements to Dundee’s schools estate.
Writing to the Council’s Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and Head of Finance, Cllr Macpherson asks, “Is there any indication of the method by which Scottish Government will choose the schools to be included, a bidding process and criteria and if level playing field or similar support is to be offered?”
Cllr Macpherson said there was significant concern that it had taken the SNP government two years to get this far with the Scottish Futures Trust which has thus far funded nothing, and he was very critical of the delays that had held up capital building projects. He said, “It is now vital that we finally get some clarity as to the detailed working arrangements for the Scottish Futures Trust, the extent to which Dundee will benefit from further capital investment and which schools can be improved and how quickly.
“There has been far too much delay and we need to see clarity and action from government as soon as possible,” he concluded.