Cut ‘beggars belief’

A Lanarkshire MSP has slammed SNP plans to cut funding to tackle the attainment gap in North Lanarkshire.

Scottish Conservative Meghan Gallacher’s call comes after the SNP outlined plans for the money to be invested in the‘strategic equity fund’, as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge.

However, Ms Gallacher says that, as part of the funding – which covers 2022/2023 until 2025/26 – cuts have been made by the SNP in nine council areas including North Lanarkshire.

North Lanarkshire will see a cut of more than £3m over the next few years, with cuts totalling almost £19m combined across the nine council areas.

Other areas affected are Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.

The Central Scotland MSP has said this is an insult to deprived communities in the area.

She said:“Among the many failures in education during the SNP’s 15 years in power, the growing attainment gap between youngsters from affluent areas and those from more deprived parts of the country is among the worst.

“Given that Nicola

Sturgeon repeatedly says reducing the attainment gap is a top priority, it beggars belief that funding to tackle it in North Lanarkshire will be reduced so dramatically.

“This is the last thing North Lanarkshire needs as they aim to support pupils from our most deprived communities after the disruption of the pandemic.

“Parents in North Lanarkshire will equally be dismayed by these plans and SNP Ministers must explain why our communities in North Lanarkshire will be especially hit hard by these cuts.”