North-east MP welcomes Chancellor's spending review
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Chancellor Rishi Sunak's spending review which included announcements on a multi-billion pound increase in public spending and investment in energy, agriculture and fishing, has been welcomed by a north-east MP.
The package of measures announced in the House of Commons was hailed by Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid.
The budget for the Scottish Government will be increased by £2.4 billion – on top of the £8.2 billion already committed as part of efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
There will be £570 million in additional funding for farmers and land managers, £14 million for fisheries and £1.3 million towards a Global Underwater Hub based in Aberdeen.
The Chancellor also outlined UK-wide decisions that will benefit Scotland, including the £5 billion 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 £14.6 billion of research and development funding.
Mr 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 £2.4 billion in direct funding for the Scottish Government.
“This comes on top of the £8.2 billion 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, have been more important.
“The UK Government has supported jobs, public services and businesses throughout this crisis, and this announcement makes clear that will continue.”
