Chancellor urged against short-changing Scotland

The chancellor has been warned against “shortchanging” Scotland when he sets out how much cash the UK Government will pump into the Tay Cities Deal.

Philip Hammond is due to put a figure on the long-awaited investment package for Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and North East Fife in next week’s Budget.

SNP MSP Shona Robison said scrimping on the deal would put Tayside’s hardearned reputation for biomedicine “at risk”.

Kirstene Hair, the Tories’ Angus MP, called on the Scottish Government to ensure the Montrose to A90 link road is completed.

Match funding of the UK Government’s contribution is being offered by the Scottish Government.

The bid team has said the growth deal could be worth 15,000 jobs and £1.8 billion to the area.

Ms Robison, the Dundee East MSP, said: “Tory austerity has starved Scotland of investment and slowed economic growth.

“It would be grossly unfair for the Tories to once again shortchange Tayside, putting investment in the ground-breaking biomedical cluster at risk.”

The Courier revealed £120m worth of projects are on the UK Government’s draft list, less than the £200m councils were expecting from each government.

Ms Hair said: “At present the link from Montrose to the A90 will not meet future requirements for this growing economic hub within Angus.”

A heads of terms agreement is expected to be signed shortly after the Treasury reveals its Tay Cities Deal contribution.