Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patricia Gibson and David Gauke

Tuesday 17th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)]

1. What discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

We have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on how the Government can boost growth and productivity across Scotland and the UK. The Government are discussing city deals for Edinburgh and Stirling, and we are looking forward to receiving proposals from the Tay cities. The Government are focused on taking those deals forward as we look to agree city deals for all of Scotland’s great cities.

[Patricia Gibson]

Would the Chief Secretary to the Treasury agree that the Ayrshire growth deal would generate investment and create the economic conditions to achieve a step change throughout Ayrshire, an area of huge potential? Will he commit today to working actively and constructively with the four Ayrshire MPs, the three Ayrshire local authorities and the Scottish Government to support the deal, to the benefit of the whole county of Ayrshire?

[Mr Gauke]

Up to this point, growth deals have been city growth deals and, by definition, have focused on cities. As I said earlier, we have made a lot of progress on all the Scottish cities. Of course, it is open to the Scottish Government to take forward projects to enable growth in the county of Ayrshire, if they wish to do so.