THE method of paying for some new schools in Inverclyde has been attacked by the SNP but defended by Labour – who said it was the nationalist party’s idea in the first place.

SNP convener of Holyrood’s education and skills committee, Glasgow MSP James Dornan, hit out at ‘Labour’s disastrous public finance initiative’.

He says it is costing the council millions of pounds every year.

He said: “Labour’s spendthrift and reckless handling of our public finances continues to rob our local authorities of funds which could be put towards delivering better local services.”

Inverclyde has four schools financed in this way – Clydeview Academy, Notre Dame High, Aileymill Primary and All Saints Primary.

Labour’s Stephen McCabe said it was actually approved by SNP ministers, who would have been required to be satisfied it represented value for money for the public purse before signing it off.

He added that the contract was also fully supported by the then-SNP group on the council at the time.

Mr McCabe said: “While the charge to Inverclyde is £9.7 million a year, £6 million is paid for by a grant each year from the Scottish Government.

“It should also be recognised that the charge does not just cover the costs of servicing the debt incurred by the developer in building the schools, but also the ongoing costs of maintaining the schools and providing facilities management services.

“We have had no major issues with the school buildings themselves. They were designed and built to a very high standard, and are being maintained to a similarly high standard. They are every bit as good as the other schools we have built without the use of private finance.

“Indeed we have probably had more problems at the shared campus, which was financed under traditional means.”

Greenock and Inverclyde SNP MSP Stuart McMillan was asked for comment but he did not respond.