The Secretary of State for Scotland, , has today [15 January] confirmed that, following the
Chancellor's Autumn Budget, the total UK Government investment
specifically on City Region and Growth Deals in Scotland has now
reached £1.5 billion. The Scottish Government is also investing
£1.6 billion in the City Region and Growth Deals programme. That
means that total investment now tops £3 billion in total.
Of the UK Government contribution, £527 million was part of a
nearly £1.4 billion package of local growth investment signed off
by the Chancellor in her Autumn Budget. That means that the UK
Government is also, separately, investing £840 million in some
two dozen local growth projects and programmes across Scotland.
Driving growth and improving living standards across the UK is a
key part of our Plan for Change, and these investments are an
important part of that.
The Scottish Secretary gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament's
Economy and Fair Work Committee today [15 January]. He is the
first Cabinet Minister since the General Election to appear
before a Holyrood committee.
Mr Murray was invited by the Committee to give evidence on the UK
Government's involvement in the City Region and Growth Deals
programme, which is delivered jointly in Scotland with the
Scottish Government.
Mr Murray said:
I am delighted to confirm that UK Government investment in City
Region and Growth Deals alone in Scotland is now £1.5 billion.
This is our Plan for Change in action, and this funding will
drive economic growth and improve living standards right across
Scotland.
I am very pleased to be the first minister from this
administration to give evidence at Holyrood. We have changed the
way we do business and work with the Scottish Government and the
Scottish Parliament. We have reset those relationships to ensure
we can work together to deliver for people in Scotland. That
means genuine partnership working with the Scottish Government,
and the City Region and Growth Deals programme, delivered jointly
across Scotland, is an excellent example of that.
City Region and Growth Deals are packages of funding agreed
between the Scottish Government, UK Government and local
authority partners.
At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor confirmed additional funding
for the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal to support
Grangemouth refinery workers and their communities, confirmed
funding for a number of projects not yet in delivery, and gave
the go-ahead for the signing of the Argyll and Bute Growth Deal.
That means that we will shortly have City Region and Growth Deals
covering every part of Scotland, with UK Government investment in
them specifically, since 2014, totalling more than £1.5 billion.
