ROBERT BROWN: WHY SHOULD PARENTS BELIEVE SNP'S SCIENCE PLEDGE?

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 10th Jun 2008

Robert Brown, Liberal Democrat MSP for Glasgow and former Education Minister, has written to the Education Secretary demanding she explain to parents why they should believe the Scottish Government's commitment to science education for children.

Last week, Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Nicol Stephen exposed the SNP's cut to Glasgow Science Centre's budget. Yesterday, the Education Secretary seized on a report showing that huge numbers of Scotland's youngsters have a poor understanding of science and promised that the Scottish Government would address poor levels of science achievement.

Commenting, Mr Brown said:

"I could not believe my eyes when I read the comments of the Education Secretary. There is utter confusion and incoherence at the heart of the Scottish Government's science policy. Last week, Liberal Democrats exposed that the SNP Government had slashed Glasgow Science Centre's budget by 40 per cent - hardly a shining commitment to science education.

"Yet, yesterday the Education Secretary had the cheek to promise that her Government would do all it could to improve the poor levels of science achievement. This vague commitment is totally undermined by the actions of her Government in cutting the funding for the vital - and internationally recognised - Glasgow Science Centre that has done a great deal to inspire young people with the wonders of science, and to attract young people from the most disadvantaged communities in Scotland to an interest in science.

"I am writing to the Education Secretary asking her to explain why parents should believe her on science when she is busy slashing funding of this key and totemic project."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

PROPOSED GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE FUNDING

2008/09 £1.415million

2009/10 £1.248million

2010/11 £1.08million