IRVINE’S MSP has hit back at claims of a Scottish Government underspend by a member of North Ayrshire Council’s cabinet.

Councillor John Bell, Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Employment, had accused the SNP administration at Holyrood of “hoarding” £392m in its budget – particularly in education where figures showed a £196m underspend – while at the same time cutting council budgets.

But the SNP’s Ruth Maguire, pictured, responded: “Labour’s North Ayrshire education spokesman has his facts completely wrong and, worryingly, doesn’t seem to understand the basics of how budgets work.

"The cash underspend is £155m, rather than the £400m he claims, and is simply carried into the next financial year – not ‘hoarded’ as he bizarrely claims.

“People understand that the Government cannot allocate every single penny to be spent in a financial year and that some funding needs to be held in reserve to meet any emergency costs.

“The Scottish Government has been prudent in keeping the underspend to 0.5 per cent of the cash budget – money that is carried forward in full and spent in the following year.

“Cllr Bell would be better backing the SNP’s ambitious plans to increase funding for our schools, rather than spreading this complete misinformation.”

According to the Scottish Government’s accounts, the remainder of the underspend is “non-cash” and, under current Treasury rules, cannot be spent on cash goods and services.