By Grant Smith, education reporter

THE LIBERAL Democrat group on Dundee City Council have defended the way more than half-a-million pounds was spent on school improvements—despite their own Scottish party leader seeming to criticise it.

Nicol Stephen complained that much of a £40 million sum allocated to local authorities by the Scottish Government last summer for capital projects in schools did not go towards its intended purpose of funding building work that would help to reduce class sizes.

None of the works carried out in Dundee—including a new boiler for a primary school—related to cutting class sizes and they were proposed by a Labour-led administration that includes two Lib Dems, Fraser Macpherson and Helen Dick.

Last night Mr Macpherson said Mr Stephen had been right to raise the issue, but he was equally adamant that the council had been right to spend the money the way it did.

The £40 million boost to the Schools Fund, which helps pay for the maintenance and refurbishment of school buildings, was announced by ministers in July.

Dundee’s share was £536,000 and the city council was told it had to spend the money by the end of the 2007/08 financial year.

At the time, children and early years minister Adam Ingram said that where schools faced accommodation challenges the cash could be used to prepare for smaller class sizes by making changes to buildings.

However, the Scottish Government has now said the funding was intended for capital projects generally rather than being solely for class size-related works.

The city council’s education committee met in August to decide how to spend its allocation.

A report from education director Anne Wilson said, “The announcement of this additional grant has been linked to the commitment to reduce class sizes in P1 to P3 to 18.

“However, it is recognised that it will not be possible to specify and carry out the physical works required at this stage.”

Instead, councillors were asked to approve a package of works that could be done within the timescale, freeing up resources for future years for any capital spending related to class sizes.

The main items on the list were a new gas supply and boiler at St Luke’s and St Matthew’s Primary at a cost of £150,000 and roofing work at Mill O’ Mains and Ardler primaries totalling £280,000.

On Thursday, during question time at Holyrood, the Lib Dem leader cited documents obtained under freedom of information laws that showed what councils had been spending the £40 million on.

He told First Minister Alex Salmond, “These might be worthwhile but they don’t match the claims of your government.”

Asked if he believed Mr Stephen’s comments had been justified, Mr Macpherson said, “Nicol Stephen is right to highlight this significant failing of the SNP government.

“The city council education committee back in August agreed to make capital expenditure allocations to projects vital to address important improvements needed to our schools, including St Luke’s and St Matthew’s Primary School.

“Before any SNP councillor criticises this, I don’t remember any of them saying that St Luke’s and St Matthew’s shouldn’t get this much-needed improvement.”