Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution to the economy of (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) Scotland of the Port of Cairnryan.

Dumfries and Galloway are one of five local authority partners who have jointly submitted a proposition for the Borderlands Growth Deal. The Borderlands proposition has been developed to tackle the economic challenges across the area, need for population growth, and improved productivity all within the context of the emerging economy.

Whilst Dumfries and Galloway’s economy was worth nearly £3 billion in 2016, 2.2% of Scottish total, the economic output per person was lower than the average across Scotland (£24,876), at £19,826. It is positive that Dumfries and Galloway outperforms the national average in terms of labour market outcomes. Employment rate in Dumfries and Galloway stood at 76.1% in the year to end September 2017 (73.9% in Scotland overall). Unemployment stood at 3.3% (4.3% in Scotland overall).

The Borderlands Growth Deal proposition also calls for investment in transport infrastructure to create a platform for inclusive growth, this includes the upgrading of the A75 as part of the “South West Scotland and Northern Ireland Strategic Growth Corridor” and a proposal to duel the A75 from Dumfries to the M74. This would further support traffic going to the Port of Cairnryan, which provides crucial ferry services to Belfast.