Spring Budget Revision Supports Economic Recovery

The Scottish Government’s announcement of further investment to support economic recovery has been welcomed by Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker.

The Spring Budget Revision, which allows changes to the 2011-12 budget, was announced by Finance Secretary John Swinney on Tuesday. It confirms that Ministers have allocated around £33m to various priorities including in Fife.

The biggest allocation, of £10m, goes to affordable housing supply, with a further £5 million to employability programs, another £5 million to accelerate a number of NHS capital projects, and £4.5 million to road transport.

Further investment is being channelled into cultural and capital projects and to local government for storm-damage claims,

Mr Walker said: “These proposals are in addition to previous announcements on allocations to support the College Transformation Fund, Youth Employability programmes and the Cities Investment Fund. There is a lot here that Dunfermline and the West Fife villages will benefit from.

“The allocations clearly show that economic recovery and job creation are at the forefront of the SNP Government’s priorities. With full financial and economic powers, the Scottish Government could do even more to support the issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

“The Scottish Government is ambitious for Scotland and is taking every opportunity it can to support economic recovery and growth and to create jobs.”