Labour MSP raises concerns over college budget cuts after visit to Falkirk campus
A Labour MSP has warned the Scottish Government that colleges must not be left to “wither on the vine”.
Jenny Young’s comments came after she was recently invited to visit the Forth Valley College Falkirk campus by principal Kenny MacInnes.
After discussing the courses on offer across the college’s three campuses, as well as the severe funding challenges the college has faced in recent years, Ms Young raised the issue of college budget cuts at Holyrood.
During a Scottish Government debate at Holyrood entitled Growing Scotland’s Economy, the Central Scotland and Lothians West MSP argued that colleges should be in “prime position” to work with businesses and support economic transitions by training and retraining workers yet due to continuous cuts made by the government they are being forced to cut back.
Ms Young told the chamber: “Just when our economy, businesses and workers need colleges the most, colleges the length and breadth of Scotland are having to cut costs, let staff go and scale back”.
Highlighting the Falkirk college site, she said: “That campus has long specialised in construction and engineering, which are two vital sectors for our economy nationally, as well as locally, in my region, in proximity to Grangemouth.
"If the Scottish Government’s talk of a just transition and economic growth meant anything, the college nearest to Grangemouth would not be forced to scale back at what is a critical moment for the region that I represent.”
She added that the last Scottish Government funding hadn’t “repaired the damage” that a 20 per cent real terms cut to college budgets had inflicted in the last five years.
“If the Scottish Government is serious about growing Scotland’s economy, I sincerely hope that it is, colleges must not be left to wither on the vine.” Speaking after the debate, the MSP said: “Principal Kenny MacInnes made it very clear just how precarious the situation is for colleges due to the SNP inflicting a 20 per cent cut to college budgets in the last five years.
“Colleges are a vital part of our economy, helping people to train and retrain in key trades and industries. They are so important for people’s life chances, opportunities, and our local economy.
“If the SNP Government is serious about growing our economy, they must stop neglecting our colleges.”