Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 16 March 2011
16 Mar 2011 · S3 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Denny Town Centre Regeneration
I am referring to both the need for regeneration and the regeneration process—or, as the local people would say, the lack of a regeneration process.
Two or three weeks ago, the Scottish Government published its national regeneration discussion paper, “Building a Sustainable Future”, which sets out the importance of investing in Scotland’s deprived communities to generate growth and employment and to tackle poverty, deprivation and high levels of unemployment, especially youth unemployment. That is why, in our budget strategy, we have put economic recovery and job creation at the core of what we are trying to do throughout Scotland within the limited resources and remit of this Parliament and this Government. We have set out our spending plans, which reaffirm the Government’s social contract with the people of Scotland to protect front-line services and to seek to enhance the resilience of the Scottish economy. That includes support for disadvantaged areas and people, and regeneration is fundamental to the overall purpose of sustainable economic growth. I hope that we share that agenda with everyone in Scotland.
One of the big problems that the Scottish Government faces is the £1.3 billion-worth of cuts that are being imposed on the Scottish Government by the United Kingdom Government next year, which come on top of the £500 million-worth of cuts that were imposed by the UK Government on the Scottish Government this year. Many of those cuts—40 per cent of all the cuts over the next two years—will be capital investment cuts. One of the things that John Swinney has been able to do has been to ensure that, despite those cuts, the councils of Scotland have received an increased share of the overall spending by the Scottish Government and, by making imaginative use of revenue, he has been able to establish, in addition to our mainstream capital investment programme, a further programme of £2.5 billion for investment in transport, health and education.
Two or three weeks ago, the Scottish Government published its national regeneration discussion paper, “Building a Sustainable Future”, which sets out the importance of investing in Scotland’s deprived communities to generate growth and employment and to tackle poverty, deprivation and high levels of unemployment, especially youth unemployment. That is why, in our budget strategy, we have put economic recovery and job creation at the core of what we are trying to do throughout Scotland within the limited resources and remit of this Parliament and this Government. We have set out our spending plans, which reaffirm the Government’s social contract with the people of Scotland to protect front-line services and to seek to enhance the resilience of the Scottish economy. That includes support for disadvantaged areas and people, and regeneration is fundamental to the overall purpose of sustainable economic growth. I hope that we share that agenda with everyone in Scotland.
One of the big problems that the Scottish Government faces is the £1.3 billion-worth of cuts that are being imposed on the Scottish Government by the United Kingdom Government next year, which come on top of the £500 million-worth of cuts that were imposed by the UK Government on the Scottish Government this year. Many of those cuts—40 per cent of all the cuts over the next two years—will be capital investment cuts. One of the things that John Swinney has been able to do has been to ensure that, despite those cuts, the councils of Scotland have received an increased share of the overall spending by the Scottish Government and, by making imaginative use of revenue, he has been able to establish, in addition to our mainstream capital investment programme, a further programme of £2.5 billion for investment in transport, health and education.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman)
Lab
The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S3M-7682, in the name of Michael Matheson, on Denny town centre regeneration. The debate wi...
Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome a number of the local residents of Denny and Dunipace who have come here for this debate because it is on a very important issue in their community...
Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Michael Matheson’s motion is in three parts. The first part asserts that“there is widespread dissatisfaction among residents in the Denny and Dunipace area r...
Hugh O’Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD)
LD
My congratulations go to Michael Matheson on bringing the issue to the chamber, and on his extensive knowledge of the locality. For my sins, or otherwise, I ...
Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
I apologise to the member. I did not see him sitting up there at the back.
Michael McMahon
Lab
The Denny area is represented by the constituency MSP who is leading the debate. The other members who are taking part are list MSPs for the area. Labour doe...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
The distinction is an interesting one. It is not relevant, however. I apologise again to Mr McMahon. I did not see him sitting up there at the back. Given th...
Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, congratulate Michael Matheson on securing the debate. I welcome residents from Denny and Dunipace to the public gallery.I, too, think that it is disa...
Michael McMahon
Lab
I came to the chamber to pick up papers for this afternoon’s debate on the local government finance orders. There is no Labour representative in the Parliame...
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
That was a very useful clarification. There is no interest from the Labour Party in Denny town centre. It is also very useful to know that Mr McMahon is sitt...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
On what basis can the member say that there is complacency from the Conservatives on the council?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
On the basis of Ms Mitchell’s contribution, in the main.Hugh O’Donnell stole my thunder somewhat. Like him, I live in Cumbernauld, which, as he mentioned, wo...
The Minister for Housing and Communities (Alex Neil)
SNP
I, too, congratulate Michael Matheson not just on obtaining the debate, but on the tremendous work that he has done, especially for Denny and Dunipace, first...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
I take it that the minister is referring to the motion, which talks about dissatisfaction among the residents about the regeneration process and how it is be...
Alex Neil
SNP
I am referring to both the need for regeneration and the regeneration process—or, as the local people would say, the lack of a regeneration process.Two or th...
Hugh O’Donnell
LD
As Michael Matheson pointed out, the problem is long standing. It predates the current economic circumstances, regardless of who is to blame for them. Conseq...
Alex Neil
SNP
I have visited Falkirk Council to discuss regeneration in general and the needs of certain areas in particular. Of course, every council faces the challenges...
Margaret Mitchell
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Neil
SNP
I am afraid that I do not have time.There is plenty that can be done with a bit of imagination and leadership. If Falkirk Council comes to me as the regenera...