February 24th, 2011

REGENERATION CUTS THREATEN PROGRESS

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP has accused the Scottish Government of ‘lacking ambition’ for Inverclyde after the full extent of its cuts to the regeneration budget were revealed.

Finance Secretary John Swinney had claimed last month he would partially re-instate the Riverside Inverclyde budget following a local campaign against his 70 per cent cuts.

But the MSP has discovered this week only £1.1 million has been added to the original £2.9 million that was offered.

This represents a 61 per cent cut from the £9.5 million budget last year.

In a debate at the Scottish Parliament this week, the local MSP highlighted the good work that has been done by Riverside Inverclyde and made the case further investment.

Mr McNeil said: “It is clear that the SNP Government in Edinburgh does not share our ambitions for Inverclyde.

“Finance Secretary John Swinney has cut over 60 per cent of our regeneration budget and yet he expects us to be grateful.

“We have made considerable progress in modernising the area and attracting new jobs and businesses but we are only halfway there.

“These cuts seriously jeopardise our plans for Inverclyde and undermine the investment that has already been made.”