Swinney allocates extra budget cash

Jan 31 2012

The Scottish Government has announced extra cash for housing, job programmes and roads.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said the funds would "inject new support this financial year" into these areas.

The SNP administration has been considering how to spend £136.6 million of additional money it will receive for 2011-12 as a consequence of Westminster spending decisions.

Ministers had allocated just over £100 million of the cash, with Mr Swinney having now decided where the remaining £33 million will be spent.

A total of £12.9 million will go on housing, while £5 million will go on employability programmes and £4.5 million on roads.

A further £5 million will be spend on bringing forward a number of projects in the health service, while £2.5 million will go to pay for claims from councils in the wake of damage caused by recent storms.

There will also be £1.1 million for cultural projects, £2 million to support capital projects and £400,000 for Marine Scotland and National Parks.

Announcing the cash allocations, Mr Swinney said: "We will take every possible opportunity to support economic recovery, create growth and maximise the effect of every pound spent."

The additional funds will "inject new support this financial year into housing, transport and employment programmes, helping get people into work, create new jobs, and meeting our ambitions for Scotland".

Housing Minister Keith Brown welcomed the additional cash for housing, with £10 million to be invested in affordable homes, along with £2 million for housing adaptations and £900,000 for housing and regeneration programmes.