Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Deidre Brock Excerpts
Wednesday 2nd February 2022

(2 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Iain Stewart Portrait Iain Stewart
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I absolutely share my hon. Friend’s disappointment. When we signed the Borderlands growth deal, I was determined that the feasibility study for reopening the full Borders line should be in there. I am keen to see that work starting as soon as possible, and we will soon respond to the Union connectivity review, which also references that line. This is a classic example of where the Scottish Government should stop obsessing and spending their time, resources and money on yet more independence preparations and instead deliver on projects that really matter to the people of Scotland.

Deidre Brock Portrait Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)
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The Borderlands region will see £20 million less investment in its city region deal from the UK Government than from the Scottish Government. Why is that?

Iain Stewart Portrait Iain Stewart
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If the hon. Lady looks at the full package of investment that is going into the Borderlands deal, she will see that this Government are full square behind that area. It really is disappointing that it comes down to this petty point scoring when the whole point of the city region and growth deal is that all parts of government—local, Scottish and UK—work together on delivering the priorities that are determined by local people.