SMITH CONDEMNS FIFE COUNCIL MISMANAGEMENT

12.06.04pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Mar 2007

Iain Smith, MSP for North East Fife, has severely criticised the Labour Administration of Fife Council for failing young people in Fife through financial mismanagement and a failure to tackle problems.

During a debate in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Smith said:

"It is not acceptable that councils such as Fife Council strive for mediocrity and use the extra cash that is meant for extra teachers to pay for overspending and financial mismanagement. It is unacceptable for Fife Council to sit on its hands and do nothing about the appalling accommodation at Madras College in St Andrews, about which nothing has been done, even though it was condemned by HMIE in its inspection report a year ago. Young people in Fife are being let down by Labour's administration in Fife and the Liberal Democrats are determined to change that".

He added: "Only the Liberal Democrats think that young people matter, and nothing matters more to young people than the quality of education that they get and deserve. We think that education is the single most important issue for our nation's future, which is why Liberal Democrats will continue to invest in that future".

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The Full text of Iain Smith speech in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 22nd March can be read at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor0322-02.htm#Col33551

2. Iain Smith has been the MSP for North East Fife since 1999, an area where he was born and raised. Before becoming an MSP, Iain was a Councillor and Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Fife Council. He now lives in Ladybank in the constituency. Iain is Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education and Convener of the Scottish Parliament Education Committee.