Further support for Scotland's students and housing important for the people of Cathcart

The Scottish Government today announced a “budget of economic recovery”, says Cathcart’s MSP James Dornan.

The Scottish Budget sets out new investment in transport, housing and health, as well as an additional 19.5 million pounds in our young people, through maintaining top-up funding for student support.

There will also be an additional 8 million pounds next year to the Scottish Funding Council to help colleges play their part in delivering Opportunities for All commitments.

Welcoming this extra investment, James Dornan said: “ I am delighted to vote for a budget that has economic recovery and growth at its very heart. I believe that that is why the people of my constituency, indeed the people of Scotland, voted SNP; to steer our economy to recovery.

“As well as the 382 millions pounds additional capital spending, which will support 5000 jobs, there is a social element to this budget as well.

“Affordable housing is one of the biggest issues across all of Glasgow, and The Scottish Government have allocated 45 million pounds to deliver more affordable housing. In addition to this there has also been 42 million pounds allocated to housing loans and equity. Housing is one of the biggest issues that people come through the door of my constituency office to see me about, and this additional funding will go some way in dealing with some of these very problems.

“Of course one of the biggest issues that many have been paying close attention to is support for students. Students from all across my constituency have been emailing as part of the Our future, our fight campaign, and they are to be congratulated for the determination in their campaign.

“My constituency is home to Langside College, and I pay close attention to issues which could affect one of the largest and most important institutions in Cathcart, so I am delighted that John Swinney announced this additional funding to the Scottish Funding Council, and that they will repeat the 2012-12 top up funding for student support provided in 2011-12.

“This budget statement by the Finance Secretary will go a long way to easing the worries of the large number of my constituents, both young and not so young, who attend further education establishments across the city. My only disappointment today was that, despite Mr Swinney taking into account concerns raised by both these parties, both Labour and the Conservatives decided to vote against this budget. I suspect many of these students who fought with such determination prior to the budget for such measures will now be emailing those MSPs who voted against this budget asking them why.”