£8m investment ‘did not’ breach pre-election guidance

THE announcement of an £8million investment for Glasgow just days before the local government polls did not breach pre-election guidance, the Scottish Government’s Permanent Secretary has said.

Leslie Evans said there is no evidence party politics had influenced the timing of the announcement made by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart.

Ms Evans was responding to a call for an investigation by Scottish Conservative MSP Ross Thomson.

She said: “Having looked into the circumstances of this case there is no evidence whatsoever that the civil service allowed party political considerations to influ- ence the timing of this announcement.

“This was one of a number of announcements relating to the grant decisions being made under the authority of a panel that operates independently of ministers.

“It was therefore taken forward as a matter of routine Government business and was in no way designed to influence the election campaign.”

The investment of £8.35million from the Spruce (Scottish Partnership for Regeneration in Urban Centres) fund is to support the refurbishment of Dalmore House, a landmark building on St Vincent Street.

A press release said on Tuesday the money had come from an additional £15m injected by the Scottish Government.

Ms Evans added: “Having looked at the limited nature of the announcement – for the refurbishment of vacant offices – I have concluded that the announcement in itself could not be said to have the potential to have a material impact on the election.