SKILLS STRATEGY ABSENT FROM SALMONDS STUC SPEECH - LIB DEMS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Apr 2008

Commenting on the First Minister's speech to the STUC, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Robert Brown MSP said:

"Trade unions will not be fooled by the First Minister's rhetoric. They, like the Liberal Democrats will be looking for real action from the SNP.

"How can the First Minister promise to be a "social partner" to trade unions when his government has steadfastly failed to bring forward a robust and credible skills strategy?

"I am sure that trade union officials would have welcomed an update about the SNP's Skills Strategy. It's been over six months since the SNP's original, incoherent proposals were rejected by the Scottish Parliament and we've seen no sign of ministerial action at all on revised proposals."