Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to ensure an equitable distribution of Tay Cities growth deal funding to (a) urban, (b) rural and (b) local government areas that are part of the deal.

My officials have been working closely with local partners since proposals were submitted to Government in 2016.

It is important to note that the decision on which projects to include in any Deal is a matter for local partners in the first instance. From there, the Government is keen to deliver an equitable Deal that improves economic prospects across the whole region.

The UK Government contribution of £150 million ensures this with a package of measures to deliver transformational economic change across the whole of the Tay Cities Region.

In Dundee, we will invest in a centre of expertise for forensic science at the University and a Cyber Security Centre of Excellence at Abertay University. We will also support the Aviation Academy for Scotland.

We are supporting three projects at the Eden Campus at Guardbridge in North East Fife to strengthen both business and academia.

I was also pleased to announce a wide ranging package of support for Perth & Kinross, with projects ranging from the iconic Perth City Hall to the cutting edge research at the James Hutton Institute. Other investments here include digital connectivity and plastics recycling.

In the absence of enough suitable proposals in the Angus area, as part of the Heads of Terms agreement for the Tay Cities, the Government has agreed to ring-fence an Angus Fund and to hold further discussions over the next 12 months with Angus Council and local partners to identify proposals that will help to achieve that equitable distribution by investing in the Angus economy.