The Chancellor has been warned against “short-changing” Scotland when he sets out how much cash the UK Government will pump into the Tay Cities Deal.
Philip Hammond is set 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, who represents Dundee, said scrimping on the deal would put Tayside’s hard-earned 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 as part of their contribution.
The Scottish Government is preparing to match fund the investment offered by their counterparts in London.
The bid team, which includes local authorities, 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: “City deals can provide important investment in the Scottish economy, but the Tories have a track record of short-changing Scotland.
“Tory austerity has starved Scotland of investment and slowed economic growth.
“It would be grossly unfair for the Tories to once again short change Tayside, putting investment in the ground-breaking biomedical cluster at risk.”
The Courier revealed that as of last month £120m worth of projects had made it onto the UK Government’s draft list.
That is shy of the £200m that councils were expecting from each of the governments.
Speaking ahead of the First Minister’s visit to GlaxoSmithKline in Montrose on Monday, Ms Hair said: “I am urging the Scottish Government to include the Montrose to A90 road link in their package for the Tay Cities Deal.
“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.
Mr Hammond, who is keen to sweeten a Budget that is expected to impose several tax hikes to fund £20 billion of NHS investment, has also been urged to scrap ATM charges in the financial statement on Monday (Oct 29).
Scottish Labour MP Ged Killen has called on the Surrey MP to “throw the high streets a lifeline”.
