17/09/2009

Borders railway project still on track despite Whitehall funding cut of £500m

The Scottish Government remains “on-track and committed to the Borders railway project” SNP MSP Christine Grahame has confirmed following the Scottish Government budget statement today (Thursday) at the Scottish Parliament. Ms Grahame said:

“Despite a real terms cut of £500m in the Scottish budget from the UK Treasury, Scottish Ministers have insisted their commitment to the Borders railway will remain in place. Some other capital projects, such as the Glasgow Airport Rail Link will be cancelled however as the Scottish Government strives to work within the worst budget settlement Scotland has received from London since devolution was established 10 years ago.

“This maintains the Scottish Government’s commitment to jobs and investment in the Scottish Borders and shows we will deliver for Borderers, despite the cuts from London.

“In an energy rich country like Scotland we should not be in a position where we are forced to make any cuts to capital programmes, but that is the ongoing price Scots pay for being part of the ineffective UK.

“The damage done by the UK Government to the Scottish economy and to Scottish jobs continues to mount. Scottish Ministers have demonstrated they are able to work creatively within the diminished Scottish budget. However until Scotland has full control over all the financial levers then Scots will continue to face unnecessary and unwarranted pressures on services. That position is not tenable whilst London Governments continue to plough billions of pound into renewing the Trident weapons of mass destruction system and propping up, using taxpayers money, the discredited City of London financial system without any additional regulation or government control.”

SNP It’s time.....