Finance Secretary John Swinney has indicated he is rethinking cuts in college funding as he finalises his Budget.
Opposition parties renewed pressure on the issue ahead of this week’s vote on the spending plans for 2012-13 which Mr Swinney has said are ”still under consideration and discussion”.
The Scottish Government no longer needs to broker deals with other parties to pass its Budget because the SNP administration has a majority at Holyrood. But Mr Swinney accepted there are ”particular demands” over further education, housing and transport and pledged to consider these issues further prior to the final vote on Wednesday.
Opposition parties united at Holyrood last week to condemn the SNP administration for imposing ”damaging financial cuts” on the college sector, which will amount to £74 million by 2015 amounting to over 8% in real terms.
On Sunday, Mr Swinney confirmed receiving opposition ”pressure” over areas such as sustainable travel budgets and college funding and said he is ”looking carefully” at those points.
Specifically on the issue of funds for colleges, he said: ”It’s an area that’s still under consideration and discussion, but what I would say is that there has been material change in the Government’s Budget since it was announced in September.”
He added: ”Last week, I met with all the opposition parties to hear their ideas and I will continue to listen to sensible, costed proposals from opposition parties or the wider Scottish community to ensure we can deliver the best budget for Scotland.
”I am aware that around housing, further education and transport there are particular demands for next year, and I will continue to discuss the potential opportunities in these areas with colleagues in coming days.
”However, in the face of cuts of £1.3 billion to Scotland’s budget and economically damaging cuts of 32% to our capital investment we face some significant budgetary challenges.
”The Scottish Government is using every lever currently available to us to secure new investment and create and safeguard jobs, against the backdrop of the UK Government’s dangerous austerity package…”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, who has regularly called for more funding to colleges, said the Budget was a ”real opportunity”.
He added: ”Mr Swinney says that economic growth is the Scottish Government’s number one priority but he is choosing to cut an area that is vital for tackling unemployment.”
Labour MSP Ken Macintosh said: ”If John Swinney is changing his position on massive cuts proposed to colleges, that is welcome. It shows the growing campaign from parents, students and lecturers is working.
“But he needs to act, not just listen. The last thing we should be cutting is training places for young people.”
Mr Swinney’s £28.3 billion plans passed the first parliamentary stage last month.
The new £1.5 billion Forth Replacement Crossing and £840 million on spending for Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital are key capital spending projects in the Budget.
Other measures included £327 million for Scottish universities over the three-year spending review period, as well as a £70m National Renewables Infrastructure Fund to support green energy and the continuation of the small business bonus scheme.
There are also 25,000 modern apprenticeships and a guaranteed training or learning opportunity for every 16 to 19-year-old.
The proposals also include a controversial extra tax on large retailers that sell alcohol and tobacco.
Photo by David Cheskin/PA Archive