NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday 29th September 2004
Workers Vital to Delivering Improved Services STUC
The STUC has welcomed today's Spending Review announcement by the Minister for Finance and Public Services.
Speaking after the statement STUC General Secretary Bill Speirs said:
"The STUC welcomes the Scottish Executive's commitment to invest further in the Scottish Economy, particularly the increase in investment in transport - an investment crucial to encouraging economic growth in the Scotland.
"We also welcome the fourfold increase in higher and further education capital investment. However, this increased investment must extend to further developing lifelong learning for all and the trade union movement looks forward to further collaboration with the Executive in this area."
Commenting on the efficiency savings announcements, Bill Speirs said:
"Yet again, we have another announcement from the Scottish Executive on efficiency savings - this time further increases in the amount to be saved and a budget freeze for Executive running costs."
"Productivity improvements come from investing in people not cutting their jobs."
"The devil will obviously be in the detail and we will attempt to get more clarity when we have a series of meetings with the First Minister and senior civil servants over the next few days."
ENDS
For further details and comments, please contact:
Tel: 0141 337 8100 / Fax: 0141 337 8101 www.stuc.org.uk
Bill Speirs:
John Park: