Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris has welcomed the Scottish Government Infrastructure Investment plan which aims to create around 80 major capital projects, estimated to be worth up to £60 billion by 2030, and has received assurances over apprenticeships for Glasgow.

Finance Secretary John Swinney MSP today confirmed in answer to a parliamentary question asked by Mr Doris that procurement of capital investment projects in Glasgow, as well as Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants to attract inward investment, will boost apprenticeship opportunities.

Mr Doris said: "On transport alone the Glasgow Subway modernisation, which I have long campaigned for, will see an investment of £287.5m for completion by 2019, and an estimated £280-335m will be spent on the M8, M73 and M74 motorway improvements by 2016-17. There are a number of other major projects in the pipeline.

“These actions will assist Glasgow’s economic recovery but we also need to make sure the projects wield maximum value for the entire local economy. That is why it is so important that Scottish companies of every size are involved at the heart of these projects and that young people are given apprenticeship opportunities as the infrastructure programme progresses.

“Glaswegians can take some reassurance from hearing the Finance Secretary speaking today. The Scottish Government is using every lever at its disposal to make sure that the economy recovers whilst bringing training opportunities and jobs to Glasgow."

Note:

Scottish Executive Question Time 15th Dec 2011

Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth
Capital Investment in Glasgow

8. Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government how its capital investment in Glasgow will assist in both sustaining and creating employment. (S4O-00496)

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney): The significant capital investment programme that is being undertaken in Glasgow will support jobs through the construction phase and will create a legacy of assets that have long-lasting economic benefits.

Bob Doris: I welcome particularly the long-term approach that the Scottish Government is taking to capital investment in Glasgow; that approach is illustrated by the £285 million upgrade to the subway by 2019, for which I have long campaigned, and the new City of Glasgow college, which will get £200 million of expenditure and which will be completed by 2016. When work begins as a result of that significant capital investment in Glasgow, will local companies and my constituents benefit through contracts being awarded, jobs being created and skills opportunities such as apprenticeships being developed?

John Swinney: I can certainly assure Mr Doris that the Government has every intention of embarking on a procurement process that will deliver as many opportunities as possible for companies based in Scotland. The public contracts Scotland portal is a convenient and effective way of ensuring that companies in Scotland are informed and advised about the opportunities that exist in that respect.

I can also assure Mr Doris that the Government is placing within all its procurement activities of this type an obligation to recruit apprentices. We have seen that happening on major infrastructure projects such as the Forth replacement crossing. We are also ensuring that apprenticeship opportunities are created through the regional selective assistance grants. Those are two illustrations of how the Government is determined to use the procurement processes that are under our control to maximise the local economic impact. That approach is being taken forward operationally and in legislative terms by my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment.