|
The Association for Consultancy and Engineering, ACE, has welcomed the publication of the Scottish Spending Review and draft Budget. Both highlight the importance of infrastructure investment to growth and jobs in Scotland.
Plans include taking forward a new pipeline of investment worth £2.5billion, the imminent announcement of three new Tax Incremental Financing pilot schemes and the shift of £200 million per year from the resource budget to additional capital investment. Plans were also announced to secure 250,000 apprenticeships across Scotland and to link apprenticeships to procurement provisions.
Jim Tod, chair of the ACE Scotland Committee, said: “This draft Budget sends positive messages to industry, and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government to maintain the pace of delivery and strengthening the Scottish economy.”
“I am also pleased that the Scottish Government recognises that reforms to procurement are essential. We need to take a smarter approach to investing in asset design and delivery. We need public sector procurement to focus on how better value can be achieved in the design and delivery of our infrastructure. Smart procurement means defining a project’s needs from the outset, having active Client participation through the process and levels of investment in the design process which optimise the value to the Client. This approach will deliver savings over the lifetime of the asset and will ensure better outcomes for Scotland in terms of growth, efficiency and job creation. ACE would be pleased to work with the Scottish Government and public sector generally in looking to maximise value for the public purse on infrastructure projects.”
Announcements from the Scottish government include plans for investment in the M8, investment in the Aberdeen west peripheral route and the go-ahead for the Glasgow fastlink. There will be a renewables investment fund created to support SMEs in the sector and local government will be helped to make the most of their own capital programmes.
However, the proposals for additional borrowing powers for Scotland are still under discussion at Westminster and the Scottish Government has indicated it will prioritise consolidation ahead of new projects initially. A significant part of the current capital spending plan is also reliant on the success of the Non-Profit Delivery model, which some believe may not secure the anticipated returns if there is an upturn in the economy.
ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin OBE said: “Scotland’s spending plans are another positive sign that decision-makers recognise infrastructure as the route back to growth. Industry is keen to support all levels of government in helping to translate proposals into effective and efficient action on the ground and to support moves to free up financing for new development.”
- ENDS -
For media inquiries please contact Gavin Pearson (gpearson@acenet.co.uk) (020 7202 0255)
Notes to editors
ACE’s research paper “Infrastructure: a case for funding” can be found here.
ACE’s Barriers to Investment paper can be found here.
Photographs are available on request.
|