Scottish Labour’s Michael McMahon has condemned the SNP for presiding over the worst education cuts since devolution as local authorities attempt to find savings of £270 million.

He confronted Alex Salmond at First Minister’s Questions with evidence that councils like SNP-led Dundee received £1.76 million as their share of the Council Tax Freeze grant, but needed to make additional cuts of £5.9 million to maintain the freeze.

Scottish Labour local government spokesman Michael McMahon said:

“Each and every local authority in Scotland is having to reduce services to pensioners, children and vulnerable communities because the SNP’s discredited Concordat has resulted in the inadequate resourcing of our local councils.

“Responsibility for the £270 million cuts, reported this week, lies squarely with his Government's built-in concordat funding shortfall and their failure to adequately fund the council tax freeze.

“He should take his historical concordat and consign it to the dustbin instead of continuing to bluster in the face of the biggest cuts facing local authorities and education departments since devolution.

“Let's not forget that this is happening at a time when the Scottish Government has nearly £1 billion more to spend than last year and greater resources than any previous administration."

04/02/10