Tens of thousands of jobs will be supported by the Scottish
Government’s new £24 billion Draft Infrastructure Investment Plan
(IIP).
Covering the five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26, the Plan will
help stimulate Scotland’s green economic recovery from the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
It includes investment to decarbonise business, industry and
buildings, the provision of new health facilities and schools and
support for manufacturing innovation.
The Plan also places a new emphasis on enhancing and finding new
uses for existing infrastructure before embarking on new
projects.
The Draft IIP was unveiled in a statement to the Scottish
Parliament today by Infrastructure Secretary .
Mr Matheson said:
“In 2018 our National Infrastructure Mission committed to boost
sustainable economic growth by increasing annual investment in
infrastructure by £1.5 billion by the end of the next Parliament.
“This Plan makes good on that commitment, turning our green
economic recovery into reality and helping to support 45,000 jobs
“It is a national strategy driven by the needs of our villages,
towns and cities and will deliver benefits to communities across
the country.
“We are living in turbulent times and it is essential that
government shows leadership and provides stability and certainty.
The Draft IIP provides a robust pipeline of work that will help
stimulate a green recovery and offer high quality, sustainable
jobs in all parts of Scotland.”
The Draft IIP includes:
- more than £8 billion for environmental sustainability and the
transition to net zero emissions, including £250 million to
support 18,000 hectares of forestry and restoring peatlands
- almost £5 billion boosting inclusive economic growth,
including £500 million to extend full fibre broadband to
businesses and households in rural areas and £30 million for the
National Islands Plan
- more than £11 billion for our cities, towns, villages and
rural areas, including £275 million to revitalise town centres
and nearly £2 billion on health infrastructure and equipment
Further projects will be added to the Draft IIP when their
procurement plans are sufficiently advanced. It may also be
possible to bring more schemes forward after the UK Government
publishes it Comprehensive Spending Review, which will clarify
the Scottish Government’s budget for future capital investment.
Background
A National Mission with Local
Impact: Draft Infrastructure Investment Plan forScotland
2021‑22 to 2025‑26 is published online.
Finalised infrastructure plans will be prepared later this year
following a period of consultation on the Draft IIP.
The Plan accepts the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland’s
recommendations on the strategic investment priorities required
to achieve an inclusive, net zero emissions economy in Scotland.
The Draft IIP details how the Scottish Government will deliver
its £33.5 billion National Infrastructure Mission (NIM), which
will support an estimated 45,000 jobs. Apart from infrastructure,
the NIM also covers investment in research, business innovation,
capitalising the new Scottish National Investment Bank and
capital funding to local government.
Also published today is Investing for Jobs: Capital
Spending Review Framework 2021-22 to
2025-26, which outlines how the spending
plans contained in the NIM and Draft IIP are affordable, prudent
and realistic. Detailed capital budget allocations will be set
out later, likely alongside the Scottish Budget 2021-22.
