Public Expenditure: Scotland
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of UK Government investment programmes on communities in Scotland.
Answered by Scotland Office
The UK Government is committed to driving sustainable economic growth, creating high-skilled jobs, and delivering tangible benefits for communities right across Scotland.
Our direct investment programmes, including the £140 million Scottish Local Growth Fund, the Pride in Place programme, City Region and Growth Deals, Freeports, and Investment Zones, are targeted at unlocking economic potential, regenerating town and city centres, and improving local infrastructure. For example, the Glasgow City Region Deal, has attracted over £800 million in private and commercial investment since 2014, further strengthening Glasgow City Region’s position as a hub of Scotland’s economic growth. The Deal has supported 5,500 people into sustained employment, and has the potential to deliver 29,000 jobs over the Deal’s lifetime.
Assessments of investment programmes are conducted in partnership with local authorities, regional partnerships, and key stakeholders using robust economic frameworks. These measure long-term outcomes such as local job creation, private-sector leverage, productivity growth, and community revitalisation. My department continues to monitor these impacts closely to ensure UK Government funding delivers maximum value and lasting economic prosperity across Scotland.
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