Labour highlight SNP efficiency and effectiveness

SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn today thanked Lord George Foulkes for using his Parliamentary Questions to expose the efficiency and effectiveness of the SNP Government and the huge expenses run up by the previous administration.

A series of Parliamentary answers to Lord Foulkes show that

* Advisers to the First Minister have claimed one sixth of the expenses of those for the Labour and Lib Dem Administrations who claimed £57,000 in 2004-05

* the number of communications officers, number of press releases issued, communications officers costs, and PR costs are all LESS under the SNP Scottish Government than the Labour/LibDem Executive. For example, PR costs between 1 May 2007-31 January 2008 are nearly 40% less than the equivalent costs between 1 May 2006-31 January 2007.

* the number of ministerial car journeys between 16 May 2007-31 January 2008 is 500 FEWER than during the comparable period in the previous year of the Labour/LibDem Executive.

* Three times as many people have viewed Alex Salmond's online broadcasts as viewed Jack McConnell's

Commenting on Lord Foulkes failed attempts at attacking the Government Central Scotland MSP Jamie Hepburn said:

"I would like to thank Lord George Foulkes for going to such lengths to expose the efficiency and effectiveness of the SNP Government in contrast to the waste and excess of the Labour and Lib Dem administration.

"His fishing attempts demonstrate that the SNP have delivered far more effective, efficient and leaner government than the previous Labour/LibDem Executive – which was clearly all expensive spin and no policy substance.

"The SNP government has done more in the last year than the Labour/LibDem coalition did in 8 years, which is one reason why we are at record levels in the opinion polls.

"This is yet another example of Lord 'Boomerang' Foulkes in action. His attempts to attack the SNP Government have spectacularly backfired and only exposed the failings of his own party in power. Instead of landing a prize fish he has only caught the boot for Labour.

"Considering his admission that the SNP Government is 'deliberately' making public service 'manifestly better' in Scotland 'than south of the Border', Lord George Foulkes is fast emerging as the Government's secret weapon on the Opposition benches!"