Angela Constance MSP for Almond Valley joins her colleague Fiona Hyslop MSP for Linlithgow in calling for full transparency and accountability from West Lothian Council on how they have utilised more than £5.5 million of Scottish Government investment to retain and recruit teachers.
Angela Constance MSP said
‘With financial support from the Scottish Government teacher numbers in West Lothian in 2022 increased by 29. However, West Lothian Council received more than £5.5 million in this financial year and this could employ more than 100 teachers.
‘Therefore, in the interest of transparency and accountability to West Lothian parents, pupils and teachers, I am calling on the Council Leader to provide a detailed breakdown of how his administration have invested this £5.5 million.
‘Questions have to be answered about how this £5.5 million has been invested particularly given that the draft budget working its way through Parliament once again contains £145 million for local authorities across Scotland to increase teacher numbers.
‘I am pleased that the First Minister has confirmed to Parliament that the Scottish Government will continue to take action to protect and increase teacher numbers. It is imperative that we follow the money to ensure that the funding that is being provided to local authorities to increase teacher numbers actually delivers on that outcome’
01506 460403
angela.constance.msp@parliament.scot
Unit 4, Ochil House, Beveridge Square, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6QF