Disappointment as SNP announce school building programme - with no new schools for Glasgow

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 2nd Oct 2009

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has this week accused the SNP Government of tokenism in its commitment to rebuilding Scotland's crumbling schools.

On Monday the SNP Government announced a building programme for just 14 new schools across Scotland, none of which are in the Glasgow area.

The announcement had been eagerly awaited for over two years.

The previous Lib Dem/Labour administration delivered funding for several hundred new schools around the country whilst in Government, and left a legacy of many more in progress, with some still due to be opened in the coming months and years.

The 14 SNP new build schools will all be secondary schools and local authorities will be expected to contribute one third of the cost.

Glasgow City Council recently announced a raft of primary school closures - mainly due to the poor condition of many of its school buildings, and the large running costs generated by the antiquated buildings.

Many of Glasgow's 166 primary schools will still need serious refurbishment, but question marks remain about how the Council will be able to fund this, especially if the Government capital school building project will only focus on secondary schools.

Mr. Brown said:

"After two years of total paralysis in school building and planning, the SNP is now rushing to get some token bricks built by polling day.

"We've waited two years to finally hear that the rather trivial total of 14 schools will be rebuilt - none of which are in Glasgow.

"The Liberal Democrats in Government brought about hundreds of new schools all over Scotland.

"It's hugely disappointing that the needs of parents and pupils in Glasgow have been ignored.

"Glasgow is the city in greatest need - the closure of 20 primary schools earlier this year is testament to that.

"Our Primary School estate badly needs modernised, and much of it is not fit for purpose.

"Our children deserve better.

"Frankly, the children and parents at these schools have been let down, yet again by the SNP Government.

"This announcement now raises more questions about what on earth the SNP is doing throwing money away on the Scottish Futures Trust.

"Children in Scotland should have been the priority. The Government should have built more schools, rather than doubled the budget for this multi million pound quango."