School cash row
I read with interest that Derek Mackay — our Finance Minister in the Scottish Parliament and local MSP — announced additional financial funding for our schools.
Welcome news ... though could I remind him that, under his watch, funding for education throughout Scotland has been systematically cut.
Now it appears the appetite for independence has diminished, the SNP’s focus has returned, as he says, to his “day job”.
Cynically, they have abdicated their responsibility for distributing these resources and placed the priority choices on to under-pressure headteachers.
We should also take on board the low base Renfrewshire schools are currently at, given that we have consistently been in the bottom quartile of authorities receiving funding from the Scottish Government.
As stated, any additional funding for our children’s education is welcome,but time for celebration is somewhat premature. Councillor Jim Sheridan Houston, Crosslee and Linwood ward
Victoryforworkers
The UK Supreme Court’s recent ruling on employment tribunal fees has come as surprising and very welcome legal news for lawyers and clients at Renfrewshire Law Centre.
In July, in a judicial review brought by trade union Unison, the Supreme Court judged these fees to be unlawful and an obstacle to accessing justice.
The government had introduced the fee system in mid-2013, largely as a measure to reduce the large volume of claims brought in front of the employment tribunal, many of which the government considered to be vexatious.
Until that date, there had been no fees for using the tribunal service for such cases. Their introduction left many employment law lawyers aghast, particularly given their extreme cost, for example £1,200, to bring a case of unfair dismissal.
Certainly the new system was effective in slashing the amount of cases — some estimates put the reduction as high as 70 per cent — but many practitioners in this field became concerned that legitimate claimants were being deterred from asserting their rights.
At Renfrewshire Law Centre, where about one fifth of our core casework relates to employee rights, the UK Supreme Court’s intervention is seen as a highly positive development, and at long last a step in the right direction.
The Supreme Court has also ordered that any fees paid between July 2013 and July 2017 should be refunded to claimants.
Renfrewshire Law Centre, which is a legal charity, may be contacted on 0141 561 7266. Jon Kiddie Solicitor Renfrewshire Law Centre
Under his watch, funding for education has been systematically cut