This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35423953

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Aberdeen to benefit from £504m government investment 'Historic' £504m north east deals agreed
(35 minutes later)
The north east of Scotland has been allocated £504m of funding over the next five to 10 years to improve infrastructure and attract jobs. The north east of Scotland has been allocated £504m of funding over the next 10 years to improve infrastructure and attract jobs.
A £250m "City Deal" for Aberdeen will see the UK and Scottish governments jointly invest in the area.A £250m "City Deal" for Aberdeen will see the UK and Scottish governments jointly invest in the area.
Separately, the Scottish government has promised £254m for key infrastructure projects in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.Separately, the Scottish government has promised £254m for key infrastructure projects in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
These include improved rail links and improvements to the A90 junction at Laurencekirk. These include better rail links and improvements to the A90 junction at Laurencekirk.
The City Deal agreement was formally signed by Scottish Secretary David Mundell and the Scottish government's infrastructure secretary, Keith Brown, in a ceremony in Aberdeen.The City Deal agreement was formally signed by Scottish Secretary David Mundell and the Scottish government's infrastructure secretary, Keith Brown, in a ceremony in Aberdeen.
Innovation centre
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is also visiting the city to announce support for the North Sea oil and gas industry.UK Prime Minister David Cameron is also visiting the city to announce support for the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had written to Mr Cameron calling for more help for the area following job losses in the offshore industry.
The City Deal agreement includes funding for an energy innovation centre and the expansion of Aberdeen harbour to help the city compete for oil and gas industry decommissioning work.The City Deal agreement includes funding for an energy innovation centre and the expansion of Aberdeen harbour to help the city compete for oil and gas industry decommissioning work.
It also includes proposals to help exploit the remaining North Sea oil reserves.It also includes proposals to help exploit the remaining North Sea oil reserves.
The Aberdeen agreement follows a similar deal for Glasgow in 2014.The Aberdeen agreement follows a similar deal for Glasgow in 2014.
Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor Mr Mundell said the "historic" City Deal demonstrated the commitment of both the UK and Scottish governments to the region.
You would almost think there was an election on the horizon, wouldn't you? He added: "I think that it is an example of what people here in the north east and right across Scotland want to see - their two governments and their local authorities working together to deliver the transformational deal that we have got on the table today."
The City Deal started in England, Manchester being the big example. There, it was connected to devolving power, to re-empowering the city of Manchester and the surrounding large towns and cities as well. He said the agreement would also help to kick start "hundreds of millions" of additional funds to the region from the private sector.
Glasgow is something comparable in that it was a large number of local authorities working together. Mr Brown said the deal marked "something of a red letter day" for the north east, and predicted the new oil and gas innovation centre would help to "anchor the region in terms of global research and development".
I think the Aberdeen one is different - it is more like a joint investment package and it doesn't really involved any political devolution to the area. He also outlined details of the separate £254m of support offered to the region by the Scottish government, saying it would "help to cement the north east as one of the world's leading areas for business and industry.
City Deals are not designed to be solely public sector investment - they are designed to be leverage that then brings in investment from the private sector. The investment will come from future Scottish government budgets over the next five to 10 years.
From speaking to people here in Aberdeen there are constraints on development of connectivity, of the scope of the harbour, of the availability of employment. It will go towards:
City Deals are designed to tackle those and release investment from the private sector. Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing said the City Deal package was "only the first stage in transforming the north east of Scotland", while Martin Kitts-Hayes, co-leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said the deal would open the doors to further investment in key areas such as infrastructure and housing.
There had been calls for greater support for Aberdeen, with the oil and gas industry struggling with low oil prices. The two council had originally bid for a deal worth £2.9bn over 20 years.
Mr Cameron is visiting the city to meet local workers and senior offshore industry executives, and is expected to announce further UK government measures to safeguard jobs. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hold Holyrood that her government would continue to press the UK government to offer more financial support to the north east.
Mr Mundell told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The money would be available over a five to 10 year period as these projects go forward but what is also really important about the City Deal is that it leverages in other money. Ms Sturgeon had written to the prime minister calling for more help for the area following job losses in the offshore industry, which is struggling due to the fall in global oil prices.
"So that as well as the money that is coming in as part of the City Deal, there is about £1.2bn which that money can help bring forward from the private sector, from the universities and from the councils themselves. It works as a stimulus." Mr Cameron is visiting Aberdeen to meet local workers and senior offshore industry executives, and is expected to announce further UK government measures to help safeguard jobs.
The City Deal includes proposals to help exploit the remaining North Sea oil reserves, and the expansion of the city's Aberdeen harbour to help the city compete for decommissioning work. A new ministerial group on oil and gas, chaired by UK Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, has been set up to help support the industry.
A new ministerial group on oil and gas, chaired by Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, has been set up to help support the industry.
The group met for the first time on Wednesday and agreed to produce an oil and gas workforce plan in the spring, focusing on what the government can do to support workers at risk of redundancy.The group met for the first time on Wednesday and agreed to produce an oil and gas workforce plan in the spring, focusing on what the government can do to support workers at risk of redundancy.
'Unequivocal message'
Announcing the extra £254m from the Scottish government, Mr Brown said the money would be targeted towards the delivery of improved transport and digital connectivity and local housing programmes requested by the local authorities.
He told Good Morning Scotland: "We've said we want to do more than is laid out in the City Deal. The projects that we are now talking about respond directly to the first request of the two councils, which was to do with connectivity to Aberdeen, which they feel is vital for the future."
He added that the additional £254m "has to come from commitments in the capital programme and it has to come from future budgets".
The specific Scottish government funding is:
Nicola Sturgeon will visit Aberdeen on Monday for meetings with the oil and gas industry where she will make a further announcement of Scottish government action to support innovation, exploration, skills and access to finance for the North Sea industry.Nicola Sturgeon will visit Aberdeen on Monday for meetings with the oil and gas industry where she will make a further announcement of Scottish government action to support innovation, exploration, skills and access to finance for the North Sea industry.
Further investment The Scottish government has also called on Chancellor George Osborne to cut taxes for the industry in his budget in March.
The Scottish government has also called on the Chancellor to cut taxes for the industry in his budget in March.
Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing said the City Deal package was "only the first stage in transforming the north east of Scotland".
Martin Kitts-Hayes, co-leader of Aberdeenshire Council, said the package marked a "huge opportunity" for the region, and would open the doors to further investment in key areas such as infrastructure and housing.