EDINBURGH CITY DEAL BOOST FOR MIDLOTHIAN AND MUSSELBURGH

Colin Beattie, Midlothian North and Musselburgh MSP, asked a parliamentary question to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity on  how the Scottish Government’s investment in the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South-East City Region Deal will help to deliver inclusive economic growth across the region and benefit residents within his constituency.
 
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary responded to Mr Beattie’s question advising that the Scottish Government has committed £300 million over 15 years to the Edinburgh and south-east Scotland city region deal to support delivery of a programme of investment to stimulate inclusive economic growth and create jobs right across the city region. The deal was signed in August by the First Minister and we look forward to working with partners in the coming years to deliver it. The partners will use the deal to deliver a transformative impact across the whole city region and deliver new jobs, new homes and skills training. For the two areas that Colin Beattie highlighted, there will be direct investment in the Easter Bush campus of the University of Edinburgh in Midlothian, which features prominently in the data driven innovation programme; in the food and drink Innovation campus, which will be located at Craighall next to the Queen Margaret University campus at Musselburgh; and in a £120 million upgrade to the Sheriffhall roundabout to deliver benefits to all users of that part of the A720 Edinburgh bypass.
 
Commenting after portfolio questions Mr Beattie said: “I welcome the response from the Cabinet Secretary announcing that both Midlothian and East Lothian will receive investment in the Easter Bush campus, Queen Margaret University, as well as £120 million for the Sheriffhall roundabout upgrades
 
“The Edinburgh and South-East City Region Deal will be a massive funding boost for the communities of Musselburgh and Midlothian.
 
“Inclusive growth was a key consideration in the development of city region deal. The Scottish Government’s £25 million investment in the integrated regional employability and skills programme will maximise the synergies between the different projects within the deal and equip people across the region to benefit from the additional jobs that will be created by the investment over the next 10 to 20 years.”