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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Education pledges 'not dropped' | Education pledges 'not dropped' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Education Secretary Michael Russell has denied that the Scottish government is abandoning promises on education. | Education Secretary Michael Russell has denied that the Scottish government is abandoning promises on education. |
| Mr Russell offered councils a deal on speeding up its drive to cut class sizes through the scaling back of a commitment to give free school meals. | Mr Russell offered councils a deal on speeding up its drive to cut class sizes through the scaling back of a commitment to give free school meals. |
| Opposition parties said the SNP had now scrapped pledges on both class sizes and free school meals. | Opposition parties said the SNP had now scrapped pledges on both class sizes and free school meals. |
| The education secretary said the deal was a "realistic view of getting something done in very tough times". | The education secretary said the deal was a "realistic view of getting something done in very tough times". |
| The government insisted cutting class sizes was vital but had to be paid for amid the current public spending squeeze. | The government insisted cutting class sizes was vital but had to be paid for amid the current public spending squeeze. |
| Ministers said the offer would deliver maximum P1-P3 class sizes of 18 by August 2010 for 11,000 extra pupils. | Ministers said the offer would deliver maximum P1-P3 class sizes of 18 by August 2010 for 11,000 extra pupils. |
| This would mean 20% of children in the first three years of school would be in classes of 18 or less. | This would mean 20% of children in the first three years of school would be in classes of 18 or less. |
| In return for speeding up class size reductions, the Scottish government said it would give councils "the flexibility to prioritise free school meals for children in the most deprived areas", as part of progress towards universal free school meals. | In return for speeding up class size reductions, the Scottish government said it would give councils "the flexibility to prioritise free school meals for children in the most deprived areas", as part of progress towards universal free school meals. |
| I do not have the finances to do everything I want to do Michael RussellEducation secretary | I do not have the finances to do everything I want to do Michael RussellEducation secretary |
| Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the EIS teaching union, said: "We have been going backwards on class size reductions instead of forwards so something needs to be done. | Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the EIS teaching union, said: "We have been going backwards on class size reductions instead of forwards so something needs to be done. |
| "But we have serious questions about whether this will be enough for the purpose, whether it will be robust and enforceable, or will it be optional to local authorities to buy into this if they so choose." | "But we have serious questions about whether this will be enough for the purpose, whether it will be robust and enforceable, or will it be optional to local authorities to buy into this if they so choose." |
| Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said the changes proposed to councils amounted to the "ripping up of both the SNP's education manifesto commitments and the concordat". | Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said the changes proposed to councils amounted to the "ripping up of both the SNP's education manifesto commitments and the concordat". |
| Mr Gray said: "The first minister told the people and Holyrood that he would deliver class sizes of 18 or less for Primary 1-3. He also said he would provide free school meals for the same group. | Mr Gray said: "The first minister told the people and Holyrood that he would deliver class sizes of 18 or less for Primary 1-3. He also said he would provide free school meals for the same group. |
| The government said cutting class sizes was 'vital' but had to be paid for | |
| "This has turned out to be false and he must come to the chamber and explain himself." | "This has turned out to be false and he must come to the chamber and explain himself." |
| Tavish Scott, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said Mr Russell had run up the white flag on every SNP education promise. | Tavish Scott, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said Mr Russell had run up the white flag on every SNP education promise. |
| And Conservative schools spokeswoman Liz Smith said the SNP was applying sticking plasters to its broken education pledges. | And Conservative schools spokeswoman Liz Smith said the SNP was applying sticking plasters to its broken education pledges. |
| Mr Russell, who last week replaced Fiona Hyslop as education secretary, said cutting both class sizes and free school meals were "enormously important" but he said there were real difficulties for local authorities due to the funding cuts coming from Westminster. | Mr Russell, who last week replaced Fiona Hyslop as education secretary, said cutting both class sizes and free school meals were "enormously important" but he said there were real difficulties for local authorities due to the funding cuts coming from Westminster. |
| "We are very keen on seeing manifesto commitments filled but we have got to go in a planned way according to the resources that are made available to us," he said. | "We are very keen on seeing manifesto commitments filled but we have got to go in a planned way according to the resources that are made available to us," he said. |
| Pre-budget report | Pre-budget report |
| Mr Russell added: "We need to achieve the class size reductions because there is real evidence that it works and is useful. | Mr Russell added: "We need to achieve the class size reductions because there is real evidence that it works and is useful. |
| "Councils are moving forward on school meals. I am recognising what they are doing. I am asking them to do more in areas of deprivation and will continue to grow that policy." | "Councils are moving forward on school meals. I am recognising what they are doing. I am asking them to do more in areas of deprivation and will continue to grow that policy." |
| The education secretary said the chancellor's pre-budget report revealed that Scotland would suffer funding cuts of £800m next year. | The education secretary said the chancellor's pre-budget report revealed that Scotland would suffer funding cuts of £800m next year. |
| He said: "I do not have the finances to do everything I want to do. No Scottish government minister does. That is the reality of a cut of £800m. | He said: "I do not have the finances to do everything I want to do. No Scottish government minister does. That is the reality of a cut of £800m. |
| "I hope I am opening the door to Scotland's local authorities to say 'there is still a way of achieving this', we are just going to have to move a bit more slowly and a bit more cleverly. | "I hope I am opening the door to Scotland's local authorities to say 'there is still a way of achieving this', we are just going to have to move a bit more slowly and a bit more cleverly. |
| "I am now waiting for Scotland's local authorities to tell me what they think of it." | "I am now waiting for Scotland's local authorities to tell me what they think of it." |