How is the SNP supporting the economy of the South of Scotland?
The Scottish Government will prepare legislation to establish the South of Scotland Agency to address the enterprise and skills needs of the south of Scotland. Interim arrangements will be in place later this year to ensure the south of Scotland benefits from a new approach that sustains a diverse economy while supporting and growing communities.
While the UK government has, time and again, failed to match the funding put forward by the Scottish Government to develop Scotland’s cities and regions, SNP MPs will demand that the UK government meets the ambition and funding put forward by the Scottish Government to develop the south of Scotland.
The SNP is committed to the largest transport investment programme that Scotland has ever seen, by Spring 2018 the SNP Scottish Government will have delivered 250 km of new roads over 10 years. In the South of Scotland we are taking forward the construction of the Maybole bypass on the A77, making further improvements to the A75 and exploring how to better connect Dumfries and the M74.
The Scottish Government will also promote the South of Scotland and Ayrshire as a tourism destination for coastal and forest tourism activities by developing walking opportunities and cycling routes, 7stanes mountain biking, the Galloway Dark Sky Park and South West Scotland Biosphere.