The Chancellor’s Spending Review “delivers” for Scotland with a multi-billion increase in public spending and investment in energy, agriculture and fishing, David Duguid has said.
The MP for Banff and Buchan welcomed the package of measures announced by Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons.
The budget for the Scottish Government will be increased by £2.4billion – on top of the £8.2billion already committed as part of efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
There will be £570million for farmers and land managers, £14million for fisheries and £1.3million towards a Global Underwater Hub based in Aberdeen.
The Chancellor also outlined UK-wide decisions that will benefit Scotland, including the £5billion UK Gigabit Programme for broadband, a Shared Rural Network for 4G, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to replace EU Structural Funds, a UK Infrastructure Bank and £14.6billion of research and development (R&D) funding.
Scottish Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan David Duguid said:
“The Chancellor’s Spending Review delivers for the whole of the UK at a crucial time.
“While there is light at the end of the tunnel in terms of Covid-19 vaccines, we are still facing an economic emergency.
“It is great to see, therefore, the UK Government providing an extra £2.4billion in direct funding for the Scottish Government.
“This comes on top of the £8.2billion already committed to Scotland to help deal with the pandemic, and I hope SNP Ministers will ensure the money is spent wisely.
“I was also pleased to see significant funding for agriculture and fisheries – as well as investment in subsea technology here in the north-east.
“It is hard to think of a time when the strength of the United Kingdom, and the financial might of the UK Treasury, has been more important.
“The UK Government has supported jobs, public services and businesses throughout this crisis, and this announcement today makes clear that will continue.”
