Roz McCall asks 'Will my constituents be left with nothing?'

This was said by Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, during question time in the Scottish Parliament on November 20.

As previously reported in the Press, there are ‘significant concerns’ that Dunfermline will lose £5m of UK Government funding following today's budget announcement.

Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves said that they were "minded to cancel" some of the projects that were promised Levelling Up money by the previous Tory regime at Westminster.

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Back in March, Fife Council was told the city would get £5m and decided to spend it on St Margaret's House, Tower House, Fire Station Creative, and Dunfermline Learning Campus.

However, Kate Forbes has said the Scottish Government will “strenuously push” to get this.

Kate Forbes. (Image: PA) Roz McCall asked the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about the potential withdrawal of levelling up funding for Dunfermline and any economic impact this may have.

She said: “The UK Labour Government has threatened to pull £5 million-worth of crucial levelling-up funding from the city of Dunfermline.

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“That vital cash was intended to renovate St Margaret’s house into a new cultural space; repair and restore the city’s B-listed Fire Station Creative building; turn Tower house into an improved cultural space; and create a new amphitheatre for outdoor performances at the Dunfermline learning campus.

“I am clear that such withdrawal of funding is a betrayal of Scotland’s newest and fastest-growing city.

Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife. (Image: Andrew Cowan/ Scottish Parliament)“Will the Deputy First Minister commit to strenuously making the case for the funding that is necessary to protect those projects and to progress them, or will my constituents be left with nothing?”

Kate Forbes, deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for economy and Gaelic, said: “As a point of principle, the Scottish Government is very supportive of place-based regeneration, and I understand the disappointment that the member has expressed.

“The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government is writing to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, seeking further information on the UK Government’s intentions for previously committed funding and for previously committed projects that did not receive confirmation of funding in the UK budget.

“We will, to use the member’s word, continue to strenuously push for maximum support for Dunfermline, and for other areas that have been promised funding.”