This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Investment plan for Scotland's infrastructure
25/02/2005
The first-ever infrastructure investment plan setting
out the Executive's long term plan for improving Scotland's
public services and investment opportunities for business
was launched today.
Infrastructure Investment Plan: Investing in the
Future of Scotland sets out detailed investment
plans in schools, hospitals, housing and transport
projects. The Executive will increase capital spending by
five per cent in real terms each year from 2005 to
2008.
The Plan shows where the Executive will target
investment to grow the economy and provide better public
services. It provides a longer term vision of investment
plans to enable the private sector to plan ahead and take
advantage of the opportunities. It will also ensure that
people in communities across Scotland will be able to see
and measure investment in their area.
The main aims of the Plan are:
- improve the co-ordination of infrastructure
investment by geographical area and between
portfolios
- improve the business economy by enabling employment
and training opportunities for Scotland's
workforce
- improve the standard of infrastructure such as the
transport network and school buildings
- improve the efficiency of how services are being
delivered
- improve the co-ordination with the private sector
and secure a mixed economy and mixed tenure of
investment i.e. Executive capital investment and use of
private finance
Launching the Plan, Minister for Finance and Public
Service Reform Tom McCabe said:
"Our investment plans commit us to a major increase and
modernisation of our infrastructure to improve the physical
fabric of Scotland. Investment that will tackle the damage
created by years of underinvestment and neglect.
"Growing the economy is our top priority. We know only
long-term funding will grow our economy and secure the
improved quality of life we are aiming to achieve. Our
record levels of investment demonstrate our commitment to
sustained long-term growth in Scotland's infrastructure
through capital investment.
"We know that sustained investment in the physical
fabric of Scotland will help us to create a growing,
prosperous Scotland where enterprise can flourish. This
plan will allow business to play a crucial role in renewing
Scotland's infrastructure - underlining that a strong
public sector can help the private sector flourish.
"The plan will also ensure that communities across
Scotland will have new modern facilities to help improve
the teaching and learning environment, to provide secure
and warm homes, 21st century health facilities, new
transport links to get goods to markets and people to work
and upgraded water supplies to meet European standards.
"The Plan is co-ordinated and shows how investment is
targeted throughout Scotland. It demonstrates the level of
infrastructure development that will be procured from the
private sector. The plan is the first step to securing a
distinctive Scottish approach to our development. To meet
the challenge we will need to utilise the skills and
experience of both public and private sector
organisations.
"This is the first time the Executive has produced such
an investment plan but it will not be the last. I intend to
ensure that our investment plans are properly planned,
properly implemented and properly monitored. We will update
the Plan at regular intervals as we plan with our partners
across the public and private sector."
The Plan sets out the Executive's future investment
plans by portfolio area and includes:
- £3 billion investment, over 10 years, in Scotland's
transport infrastructure;
- £3 billion to meet the target of renewing and
modernising 300 schools by 2009;
- a Strategic Waste Fund of more than £500 million
for local authorities to improve recycling and waste
treatment;
- a substantial investment to improve and modernise
Scotland's colleges and universities with over £420
million being spent over the next three years;
- substantial investment in the health estate to
ensure patients have access to the best facilities;
and
- regeneration of Scotland's communities including
improvements to affordable housing, eradicating fuel
poverty and building to sustainable standards.
Scottish Council for Development and Industry Chief
Economist, Ian Duff said:
"Scotland's infrastructure lags some way behind our
economic competitors and only sustained investment and
close co-operation between the public and private sectors
will enable us to catch-up. Business will warmly welcome
the opportunities contained in the Infrastructure
Investment Plan and the commitment to a modern transport
network, and hope that the Executive also delivers the
streamlined planning system and new water connections that
are needed to make these plans a reality."
A major conference "Infrastructure Investment in
Scotland" will be held on 17 and 18 May in Edinburgh to
discuss the Plan. The conference aims to bring together
both the public and private sector and will provide an
opportunity for Ministers to show that Scotland is "open
for business" and to attract investors.
The Plan will build on the investment underway since
devolution in 1999, including:
- the largest hospital building programme in the
history of the NHS, including £0.5 billion in 3 major
hospitals across the Central Belt of Scotland;
- the £2.5 billion committed to school
infrastructure;
- housing stock transfers, such as Glasgow, that will
enable the delivery of investment to improve the
quality of Scottish homes;
- increased investment in the transport
infrastructure; and
- further investment in housing, water resources and
justice system.
The Infrastructure Investment Plan completes the series
of documents on the Executive's spending plans. It should
be seen alongside the Scottish Budget:
Spending Proposals 2005-08: Enterprise ,
Opportunity , Fairness and the Efficient
Government Plan:
Efficient Government - Securing Efficiency,
Effectiveness and Productivity. These documents
can be accessed using the following links:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/enterprise/babs-00.asp
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/government/egrseep-00.asp