Smith slams SNP Government’s disregard for sportscotland staff

9/1/08

Margaret Smith MSP has criticised the Scottish Government’s decision to relocate the main headquarters of the new sportscotland to Glasgow. Following a review of the national sport agency’s future, Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell MSP announced in Parliament today that it was to be merged with the Scottish Institute for Sport to form one body, with its main base in Glasgow.

Commenting, the Edinburgh West MSP said:

“While I welcome the SNP’s U-turn in deciding not to abolish sportscotland, I think it is disgraceful that the Scottish Government has acted with such blatant disregard for sportscotland staff, leaving them to suffer months of uncertainty about the future of their jobs and then relocating them to Glasgow. The Minister has refused to say how many staff will stay in Edinburgh and how much this relocation will cost.

“Moving sportscotland was a bad idea in 2006 and it is a bad idea now – those staff whose jobs will not disappear altogether in the name of ‘a leaner organisation’ will be forced to relocate themselves and their families, face an expensive and inconvenient daily commute, or find alternative employment closer to home.

“A 2006 study on potential relocation suggested around 30% of staff would leave the agency if it moved, and I find it deeply concerning that the Minister today seemed to have no idea about the numbers of experienced staff who would be lost from the organisation as a result of the Government’s proposals.

“The consultation on sportscotland’s future was seriously limited and this announcement is a further example of SNP indecision, incompetence and hypocrisy. I will be pressing the Minister further for an explanation of how the Government reached their decision and how this will impact on current sportscotland staff and on Edinburgh.”