City deal cash ‘will create Scots jobs’

EVERY part of Scotland will benefit from a huge funding package, the Chancellor said.

Philip Hammond yesterday pledged £150million for the Tay Cities Deal – Perth and Dundee – as he revealed the Government will open negotiations for a Moray Growth Deal.

He also said good progress was being made with growth deals for the Borderlands and Ayrshire.

So far, the UK Government has committed more than £1billion to city and growth deals in Scotland.

The Tay Cities Deal is the fifth north of the Border, following Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh and the South-East region.

The deals see investment from the UK Government and the Scottish Government, as well as spending commitments from local authorities and other partners.

Last week the SNP announced it would put £200million into the Tay Cities Deal and urged Mr Hammond to match that.

But yesterday he announced the Tory Government’s £150million pledge. The investment aims to Deputy Scottish Political Editor create 15,000 jobs across Dundee, Perthshire, Angus and North-East Fife.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: ‘I welcome the significant investment – £150 million – in the Tay Cities Deal. The deal will drive economic growth in Tayside, boosting jobs and prosperity throughout the region.

‘I also welcome the announcement that we are to open negotiations on a Moray Growth Deal, and we continue to make progress on growth deals for Borderlands and Ayrshire.

‘In all, the UK Government is investing more than £1billion in City Region Deals right across Scotland, helping to drive growth in Scotland’s economy.’

But Dundee West Nationalist MP Chris Law said: ‘The UK Government’s failure to match the Scottish Government’s £200million investment in the Budget shortchanges Dundee and lacks true ambition for the Tay City Deal.’