Scottish Liberal Democrat Advisory Note, 12 June 2008

3.03.14pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Jun 2008

During today's First Minister's Questions, the First Minister returned to the subject of Nicol Stephen's question from last week, science centre funding. Mr Salmond claimed that the budget for science centres is increasing over the next three years. The Scottish Government's own Chief Scientific Advisor has published figures showing that funding to the science centres in 2008-09 will be £2.43 million, and that in both 2009-10 and 2010-2011 government funding to the science centres will remain static at £2.43 million per annum.

Mr Salmond went on to assert that Nicol Stephen wanted to reduce the budget for the science centres in Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. Neither Mr Stephen nor any other Liberal Democrat has suggested cutting these budgets. Liberal Democrats want to see the Government increase the funding for the four science centres overall.

Copies of the Chief Scientific Advisor's figures are available on request from the press office.