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UNISON calls on the Scottish Government to pass on funding in full to councils for Covid-19

thumbnail of Letter to SG May 2020
Click on graphic for letter to download and send to your MSP

UNISON Scotland has written to the Scottish Government condemning the failure to pass on in full, the money provided by the UK Government for councils on the back of the funds provided to English councils.

Inez Kirk, Branch Secretary said, “Whilst the Westminster Government has passed on £1.6 billion to local authorities south of the border directly, and without any ring-fencing, the Scottish Government has now decided to advise local authorities in Scotland to use up their reserves before they are passed any of the £155 million Barnett consequentials arising from those additional funds.”

See – https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18421828.coronavirus-scotland-councils-told-use-reserves-155m-support-withheld/

Kate Ramsden, branch co-chair added, “Councils have had to respond to this Covid crisis after 10 years of austerity and our members’ response has been tremendous during these difficult times.

“But we know from your feedback that our authority and others across the country are facing funding gaps that put services and jobs at risk.  The fact that many of our local authorities are quickly running out of cash, whilst the Scottish Government are holding onto this money nothing short of a national scandal.”

UNISON Scotland has written to the Cabinet Secretary, and associated press release, below. The branch will be writing to local MSPs and we would encourage all our members to add your voices to our demand that this money is passed to your local authority without delay.

A proforma pdf letter can be found by clicking on the graphic above right. It is directed at government ministers but can be adapted for sending to your local MSPs if you prefer. Just copy and paste into an email or word document and amend.

https://unison-scotland.org/unison-calls-on-scottish-government-to-pass-on-155m-in-full-to-councils/