Addressing the seventh annual Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Learning Conference today (Thursday, 15th November 2007) at Hampden Park, Glasgow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop MSP announced that the Scottish Government is committing just under £4.25m over the next three years to union learning in Scotland.
Following the announcement Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary Grahame Smith said
“We warmly welcome the government’s continued support for union learning.
“I know that it has been a tight spending review and I don’t wish to appear ungrateful, because I am not, but I do think that the lack of growth in the funding for union learning is a missed opportunity. With more money there is so much more we can do, but we will continue to make good use of the fund and we intend to use it”
Commenting on other reports received today of a reallocation of funding reducing the budget for individual learning accounts (ILA’s) Grahame Smith said
“ILA’S are one of the few sources of funding available to workers to support their learning.
“The Government should have assessed the reasons for any previous under spend and if it was a result of the restricted nature of ILA rules, these rules should have been changed to make it easier for workers to access funding.
“ILA’s can give workers, particularly those who are low skilled and low paid, an opportunity to improve their skills and job prospects.”
ENDS
For further information contact Ann Henderson 07875 208 167
Notes for editors The STUC Learning Conference supports trade union learning activity by targeting national key stakeholders in union learning, such as ULRs, learning providers, and representatives of affiliated unions. The STUC Learning Conference encourages awareness of policies and initiatives and to share achievements, experiences and best practice between trade unions and their partners.
The STUC Skills & Lifelong Learning Team supports ULRs in developing and sustaining a strong Scottish ULR network. Approximately 200 participants, including Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) Project Workers and union officials from all over Scotland attend the conference.