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The Chancellor, Philip Hammond MP, confirmed in yesterday’s Budget that the UK Government would commit £150m to the Tay Cities Deal – significantly less than the £200m pledged last week by the Scottish Government.
It also means that, unlike city deals for Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling, there will not be a 50:50 funding commitment between the two administrations.
Deputy First Minister, John Swinney said: “Whilst news of investment is welcome news, there will be a significant sense of disappointment across Perthshire at the scaling back of the Tay Cities Deal. I am deeply concerned that the UK Government’s refusal to properly invest in the region will lead to a downgrading of the ambition, scope and effectiveness of this deal.
“The Chancellor’s announcement confirms what we have always known: that when it comes to investing in the people of Perthshire, the Tories talk a good game until it comes time to reach into their pockets.
“By contrast, the Scottish Government’s promise to invest £200m – and match any UK Government funding above that level – is a clear sign of our commitment to Perthshire and the entire region. The difference between a penny-pinching Tory Government and a bold, assertive SNP Government could not be clearer.”
“The Chancellor’s announcement regarding the Tay Cities Deal will be a source of frustration for those across Perthshire and beyond.
“This deal had the potential to radically transform the region for the better – creating tens of thousands of new jobs, investing in communities and establishing Tayside as a hotbed of culture. I am worried that the UK Government’s decision to commit only £150m to this deal represents a very real missed opportunity, and does not provide the level of investment necessary to affect profound change across the region.
“After all the delay and prevarication, the UK Government’s final commitment is deeply underwhelming, and only serves to further underscore their poor track record of investing in the region.”
SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, Pete Wishart said:
“The Chancellor’s announcement regarding the Tay Cities Deal will be a source of frustration for those across Perthshire and beyond.
“This deal had the potential to radically transform the region for the better – creating tens of thousands of new jobs, investing in communities and establishing Tayside as a hotbed of culture. I am worried that the UK Government’s decision to commit only £150m to this deal represents a very real missed opportunity, and does not provide the level of investment necessary to affect profound change across the region.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham said: “After all the delay and prevarication, the UK Government’s final commitment is deeply underwhelming, and only serves to further underscore their poor track record of investing in the region.”
“The headline news for Perthshire from the Chancellor’s Budget today is that the Tories have left the Tay Cities Deal £50 million light.
“While the Scottish Government have pledged £200million, that has not been matched by the UK Government who have failed to match that level of funding, coming up 25% short.
“The Tay Cities Deal should have expected the UK Government to put the same amount into the pot as the Scottish Government – that’s the way it was done for the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling City Deals but instead the Tories are short-changing Perthshire.
“Perhaps Perthshire Tories can tell us which planned projects in the Tay Cities Deal should be scaled back, pared down or, simply, shelved”
