FUNDING CUTS TO GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE

That this House condemns the decision of the Scottish Government to slash the funding of the Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) from £1.7 million to £1.08 million by 2009-10, threatening its future financial viability; notes that GSC is the only facility of its type in Scotland and one of only three in the United Kingdom; believes that it is imperative that young people are encouraged to become interested in science and its central role in the prosperity of the nation; recognises that GSC is also a major tourist attraction and has been awarded five star status by VisitScotland; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Scotland to press the Scottish Government to reconsider this short-sighted and destructive decision.