Call for borrowing powers
8 Jun 2011 11:52 AM
Scotland urgently needs substantial borrowing powers to counter the effect of swingeing Westminster cuts to the capital budget, Infrastructure and Capital Investment Secretary Alex Neil said today as he visited a new library, day care centre, youth café and community project at Drumbrae in Edinburgh.
Mr Neil said:
"The Scottish Government is maximising our capital spending this year to support infrastructure investment and jobs across Scotland.
"We are investing some £2.6 billion of capital across Scotland - and this is in spite of the swingeing cuts imposed on us by Westminster.
"This is clearly having a positive effect, with workforce jobs in the Scottish construction sector rising by 13.9 per cent in 2010 while in the UK, employment in the sector declined by 2.4 per cent over the same period.
"But, the public purse is under huge financial strain. That is why we need creative, innovative approaches, like the project underway here at Drumbrae, to deliver maximum value for taxpayers money.
"The Scottish Futures Trust and the City Council are to be congratulated on delivering this excellent project in partnership with the private sector. It will deliver superb community facilities and provide strong support for the local economy.
"However, while we will go on driving our substantial capital investment programme, it is crystal clear that Scotland urgently needs substantive capital borrowing powers so we can do even more to invest in our infrastructure, grow our economy and counter the effect of Westminster cuts.
"Tomorrow, a debate in Parliament will give MSPs the chance to back the compelling case for Scotland to gain substantial borrowing powers as a matter of urgency. It is vital that they do so, and that the Westminster Government listens and acts."
Councillor Paul Edie, Convener of Health, Social Care and Housing, said:
"We're delighted to show the Minister around the Drumbrae Hub site, which is really coming on apace now. This fantastic new centre will be invaluable to the local community, meeting local need for a new day care facility while responding to the demand for a library for the community here and providing a range of Council and other services under one roof. Combining these services and facilities in a 21st century 'hub' in this way makes perfect sense - not only is it prudent in financial terms, but it will be much more accessible and convenient for residents to use."
The Drumbrae project is the first of six projects being taken forward as part of the South East hub territory - a programme which brings different public bodies together with a consortium of private sector organisations to deliver better public buildings and enhanced public services with greater value for the public purse.
Four other hub territories are being developed across Scotland which together will deliver around £1 billion of community infrastructure over the next 10 years.
Related Information