Deal will bring major benefits

After a long period of discussion, the Tay Cities Deal was announced by the Scottish and United Kingdom Governments.

It is a joint venture between the two governments, four local authorities, universities and the business community. It is designed to create a long-term investment platform in our local area.

The process to get here has been pretty tortuous but I suppose it does go to prove that there can be agreement between the Scottish and United Kingdom Governments to provide benefits to our community.

Across a range of different policy areas, there are real benefits to the communities in Perthshire North.

I was delighted to see the investment planned for the James Hutton Institute at Invergowrie.

The JHI is a world-class institution that is taking forward sophisticated research capability to enhance our agricultural and environmental strength in Scotland. I saw at first hand some of the outstanding work carried out by JHI on a recent trip to India where the institute has devised an approach that has delivered clean water and sanitation in a sustainable way to a local primary school. It is an example of using our expertise to help others.

The investment that is planned in improving the bus and rail interchange at Perth Station will have a transformative effect on the transport experience in the city. It is a really imaginative proposal that will enhance local transport connections for the benefit of all.

The proposals to invest in Perth City Hall are also welcome and provides a good platform to advance the proposition to host the Stone of Destiny in a new visitor facility.

Away back as far as 1996, when the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland, I argued it should come back to Perthshire.

The proposal to do that now is a really good one and I give it my full support. Hopefully the investment in Perth City Hall will enable that to happen.

I was delighted to see £10 million being committed to the development of Pitlochry Festival. This money from the Scottish Government is a huge boost to the investment proposals and gives that project a great kickstart.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre is a significant jewel in the crown of Highland Perthshire and its excellent performances provide good reason for thousands of visitors to come to the area.

The impact on hotels, shops, restaurants and other facilities is huge and the bold commitment gives a great platform to take forward this project.

One of the issues that created a difficulty in agreeing the terms of the Tay Cities Deal was the unwillingness of the UK Government to match the £200 million committed to the deal by the Scottish Government.

These deals were all supposed to be on a 50:50 basis but the UK Government has deserted that commitment.

There is now a further £50 million to be allocated by the Scottish Government and I look forward to hearing how that is distributed.