Extra £100k for constitution talks branded 'outrageous' by MSP

Published on Saturday 3 May 2008 11:06

THE Scottish Government came under renewed attack over its National Conversation today after it revealed nearly £100,000 of extra funding was going into the project.

Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes said it was "outrageous" so much public money was being used for what he described as "party political propaganda".

But the independent groups receiving the bulk of the new funding insisted they were promoting impartial discussion.

The Government had already disclosed the 48,000 cost of setting up the project.

But in a written parliamentary answer to Mr Foulkes, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed National Conversation events had so far cost 10,300 and around 87,000 was being given to Young Scot and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to promote the conversation among young people and the third sector.

Mr Foulkes said: "If the SNP want to promote a separate Scotland, they should pay for it and not expect the taxpayer to foot the bill, especially at a time when they are squeezing public services."

But the Government claimed the National Conversation was proving a success and there was now general acceptance among all the main political parties that some form of constitutional change is needed.

Young Scot, which will receive up to 50,000 over two years, said it was organising a national survey of young people and setting up ten local "investigation teams" of young volunteers to explore the issue at local level.

And SCVO – which is receiving 37,000 – said it was planning a website and organising meetings across the country to encourage the voluntary sector to debate the constitutional question.