Science centre staff face axe as funds cut

Published on Friday 4 July 2008 00:45

MORE than a quarter of staff at Glasgow Science Centre are to lose their jobs in a funding cut by the Scottish Government.

A total of 28 full-time jobs will go in the third round of cuts to hit the Clydeside attraction, which marks its seventh birthday tomorrow.

Mohammad Sarwar, the Glasgow Central Labour MP, yesterday said it was "outrageous" that Scottish ministers had "presided over these enormous cuts".

Officials said 11 staff were expected to go "in the immediate future", with others to follow among the 107 full-time and 24 part-time workers.

Kirk Ramsay, the centre's chief executive, said the move was a direct consequence of a 40 per cent cut in core funding.

The centre received 1.7 million in the year to March, but this is being reduced over the next three years and will fall to 1.08 million by 2010-11. In previous redundancies, 18 staff left in 2004 and 15 in 2002.

The centre, in Govan, attracts 480,000 visitors a year.

Mr Ramsay said: "It is with deep sadness that Glasgow Science Centre announces the loss of up to 28 jobs.

"The centre is now undergoing a major review of operations. There can be no doubt that this announcement marks a very sad day for Glasgow and for the talented and promising staff who have worked tirelessly to promote science and now face an uncertain future."

Detailed talks are now taking place, involving individual members of staff and unions.

Mr Sarwar said: "The SNP should be ashamed of the way the staff at this great facility are being treated due to their slash-and-burn approach.

"This is a very short-sighted and unwise decision. The proposed job loses make this a terribly worrying time for the families of staff."

The MP raised fears at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday that cuts at the centre would threaten its future viability.

Pete Wishart, the SNP Westminster culture spokesman, retorted at the time: "Instead of welcoming this new funding, Mohammad Sarwar has just embarrassed himself with this pointless scaremongering."

However, Gordon Brown said: "It's unfortunate in Glasgow that as a result of the SNP, funding has been cut and they will live to regret that."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it planned to bring in a "fairer and more sustainable funding package" for science centres, based on visitor numbers.

Ministers propose a new funding programme, providing 7.6 million over three years to be shared between the four centres – Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

The spokeswoman added that Glasgow Science Centre would receive approximately half of the cash.

She said: "The running of the business of Glasgow Science Centre is ultimately a matter for its board."

The centre has suffered a series of setbacks since opening in 2001, including the closure of its observation tower for several years because of faults.