CHILDREN had more opportunities at school under Margaret Thatcher than they do under the SNP Government, a Scottish Labour MSP has claimed.
Jenny Marra hit out at reports the SNP-led council in Dundee planned to axe swimming lessons for primary school pupils, and suggested it followed a pattern of wider cuts.
She said the SNP had made a “dog’s breakfast” of the situation, with headteachers apparently told to use cash aimed at closing the school attainment gap if they wanted swimming lessons to continue.
Speaking during First Minister’s Questions, Ms Marra, who represents North East Scotland, said: “The SNP have managed to make a political dog’s breakfast of this.
“They tell headteachers to raid the pupil equity fund to mitigate these cuts.
“John Swinney [Deputy First Minister] then says that’s not on. Council leaders, the SNP, blamed press officers for getting that wrong, when primary headteachers’ minutes explicitly say that swimming has been cut for all primary schools in Dundee.
“So what is the First Minister going to do about the ridiculous policy of cutting swimming, on top of PE teachers and music teachers in schools?
“Because the reality is, First Minister, that you and I had more opportunities as school under Thatcher than school children in Scotland have now.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insisted the council had assured her there would not be cuts to swimming lessons.
She said: “I’m glad to hear that Jenna Marra is confirming the Labour admiration for Margaret Thatcher.
“We have received assurances from Dundee City Council that there are no cuts to funding for swimming lessons in schools.
“The Deputy First Minister has been clear that he would not agree to pupil equity funding being used to replace existing provision, and that’s not just the case in Dundee but across Scotland.”
Ms Sturgeon also pointed to Labour-run North Lanarkshire Council, where swimming lessons have been slashed for primary five pupils.
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