Nursery fees were hiked in Glasgow to help plug a funding gap, the council’s education boss has admitted.

Maureen McKenna, Education Director, told a councillor who was enquiring on behalf of a constituent the decision as taken to generate income to meet the budget shortfall.

Parents have been furious at the increase of more than 50% from £2.54 per hour to £4 an hour with a further rise to £5 in the pipeline.

Read more:Thousands of Glasgow parents sign petition after sharp rise in childcare costs

Education convenor, Chris Cunningham, has repeatedly stated the decision was taken to bring the council provision into line with that of “partnership provision” in the city.

Ms McKenna however, who has been in charge of education in the city for more than 10 years, said the decision was related to council budget cuts.

An email issued in her name, stated: “I can advise that the income to be generated from the fee increase is being used to contribute towards meeting the funding gap in the Council’s budget for financial year 2018/19.

“An income generation option has been approved by Council rather than alternative measures such as reduction to service delivery.

“Fees in nurseries are already heavily subsidised and the financial climate, regrettably, means that this is no longer sustainable.”

Read more:Mum says nursery fee hike is not acceptable

The increase in nursery fees will bring in an extra £1.25m for the council in this financial year. The city wide 3% council tax increase will bring in £6.3m.

The council faced a budget shortfall of £20m.

Johann Lamont, Glasgow Labour MSP has been dealing with constituents who have seen their fees increased by hundreds of pounds a month.

She said: “The SNP has used every excuse in the book to explain this unjust and unfair increase in childcare fees. We now know beyond doubt that the real reason is the council need to fill a funding gap caused by years of cuts from the SNP government in Edinburgh.

“Instead of telling these families to pay more, SNP councillors should be demanding their colleagues in Holyrood give the city the funding it needs.

“It is completely improper for SNP councillors to pass the buck to thousands of families in our city.

“Susan Aitken and her colleagues need to do the right thing by the families and reverse this decision now.”

Yesterday the Evening Times revealed how a petition calling for the increase to be reversed has attracted two thousand signatures.

Read more:Call for council to reverse 'disgraceful' childcare charge hike

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “The increase in nursery fees was part of the council budget announced in February and will bring our fees in line with partner provision as we all work towards 1140 hours.

“We are offering more and more free hours to working families who are able to access some of the highest quality provision in early learning and childcare.”