Labour today blasted the SNP as new statistics show teacher numbers falling – as Scottish Government staff have increased dramatically.

The number of teachers has fallen by 900 as the number of Scottish Government staff increased by 600.

Andy Kerr, Scottish Labour’s Finance and Sustainable Growth spokesperson, said:

"Alex Salmond is guilty of the most appalling hypocrisy. He is forcing local authorities, schools and police forces across Scotland to cut staff, while the Scottish Government bloats.

"It is bad enough in itself that schools have been forced to get rid of 900 teachers, but this statistic is absolutely appalling when the Scottish Government is employing hundreds more civil servants. The SNP have got their priorities badly wrong.

"The Scottish Government has imposed a very tight settlement on council's education budgets, but the pain being felt in our classrooms is not shared by SNP ministers whose own staff are swelling.

"When money is scarce the government has a duty to put public services first. I know where most people would like their cash to be spent and it is in our schools, not the private offices of puffed-up politicians."

30 November 2008