Is council to blame for teacher "cuts"?

I look forward with interest to the outcome of the council"s budget meeting in February, especially with regards to education. Having been in protracted discussions with local and national politicians I am very confused as to what the current position is.

I am confident that we can safely dismiss the view of Mr Sharp, who deludes himself into thinking that the SNP in East Lothian is delivering on its education manifesto promises.

I have very recently received an e-mail from the office of Mr Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, which supports the views of the other four regional SNP MSPs.

All five MSPs are adamant that East Lothian has 'received sufficient funding to maintain teacher numbers at 2007 levels', but it is up to the council itself how to spend the money. If we are to believe our national politicians, then East Lothian Council did not need to cut the number of teachers last year.

Fiona Hyslop, Education Secretary, has also recently been reported stating that cutting staff is not an 'efficiency saving' and therefore should not proceed as such. Indeed, she also stated: 'We have made clear the local government settlement specifically included a special provision to maintain teacher numbers…' So support staff should not be cut this year and teachers should not have been cut last year.

When meeting Mr MacKenzie, education convenor, during the consultation process I brought up a previous letter from Mr Ingram that indicated that frontline services did not need to be cut. Mr MacKenzie informed the two of us present that Mr Ingram was 'wrong' in his assertions.

Quite an admission from an SNP councillor - we are not to believe everything an SNP Government Minister tells us!

In previous discussions with Mr MacKenzie, he has tried to explain where the problems with regards to funding lie. Initially it was Labour in Westminster not giving enough money. Then it was the Conservatives in Holyrood, for insisting on increased police numbers. I am surprised that he did not go for the full house and blame the Lib Dems in Haddington.

However, if the SNP in Holyrood is to be believed, this would be closer to the truth. If East Lothian Council does have the resources in place, the responsibility for these cuts lies with the current administration: namely the SNP and Lib Dems in East Lothian. Education can"t be one of their top priorities.

Colin Yorkston

Cameron Way

Prestonpans