SCOTTISH BUDGET: LOCAL MSP PRAISES INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AND SKILLS

SCOTTISH BUDGET: LOCAL MSP PRAISES INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Almond Valley MSP Angela Constance has welcomed significant investment in education and skills to aid Scotland’s recovery from COVID, which was outlined in Holyrood at the Scottish Budget statement last week.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes MSP confirmed that resource and capital spending would increase by nearly £200 million – one of the biggest rises in the history of the Scottish Parliament.

The significant investment has been welcomed as confirmation of a “determination to support learners of all ages and at all stages”.

Ms Constance said -

“This year’s Scottish Government Budget sees a significant increase in investment for education - a key priority for the Scottish Government.

“From scrapping music tuition fees to expanding free school meals into primary four and five - with plans to extend this to all primary school pupils - and nearly £2 billion for universities and colleges, this is arguably the most ambitious settlement for the education sector in the history of the Scottish Parliament.

“Children and young people in West Lothian deserve every opportunity to fulfil their potential from nursery, into school and beyond. It’s right that the Scottish Government has put investment in education and skills at the heart of this Budget. With record investment, I’ll be delighted to back the Finance Secretary’s budget in Parliament “

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Scottish Government Budget delivers:

• an offer of 1,140 hours of funded high quality early learning and childcare to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds
• over £42 million for the expansion of free lunches for children in primary four and five and special schools, and £30 million for investment in school kitchens and dining areas to prepare for future expansion to all primary school children
• £20 million to remove instrumental music tuition and core curriculum charges
• An initial £15 million for infrastructure to provide a digital device to every school-aged child by 2026
• nearly £2 billion for universities and colleges
• £50 million for the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, helping to keep The Promise to reduce the number of children in care by supporting families before they reach crisis point
• funding for Scotland’s Redress Scheme to support survivors of historical child abuse in care
• £10 million for a summer holiday childcare and activities programme for low income families
• a further £5 million to renew play parks

The 2022-23 Budget delivers an increase in education and skills resource and capital spending of 6.2% on 2021-22.

Scottish Budget 2022-23 - https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2022-23/

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