EDINBURGH COLLEGE TO BENEFIT FROM INCREASED BUDGET FUNDING

​SNP MSP Colin Beattie has challenged political opponents to back the Scottish Government’s draft budget that plans to increase spending on colleges by £18.3 million over the coming year.
 
The proposal, set out in the Scottish Government’s draft budget plans for 2019/20, will take investment in Scotland’s colleges to over £606 million.
 
The MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh has called on his parliamentary colleagues across the Lothian’s to back the Finance Secretary’s plans to secure “substantial” funding for the area.
 
MSPs will vote on the plans next month.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Colin Beattie, said:
 
“With spending on Scotland’s colleges set to rise by over £600 million, the Finance Secretary’s budget proposals for the year will come as great news for Edinburgh College and other institutions across the country.
 
“I am calling on local politicians from across the chamber to get behind the plans to secure substantial funding for colleges and universities throughout the Lothian’s.
 
Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said:
 
“There are elements of the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget that the college sector can welcome given that the revenue resource budget for colleges has increased by £18.3 million to £606.5 million – a real terms increase of 1.3%. It is good news, for example, that the financing of National Bargaining is continuing as this significant investment in lecturing and support staff is essential for colleges and there is also the continuation of the £10 million investment for the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.”