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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| £1bn 'lifeline' on bridge funding | £1bn 'lifeline' on bridge funding |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A "£1bn lifeline" has been offered to help ensure the new Forth road bridge is built, the UK Government has said. | A "£1bn lifeline" has been offered to help ensure the new Forth road bridge is built, the UK Government has said. |
| The comments came after the Holyrood and Westminster governments held talks in London to try to break the deadlock over funding the £2bn crossing. | The comments came after the Holyrood and Westminster governments held talks in London to try to break the deadlock over funding the £2bn crossing. |
| Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, who hosted the talks, said real progress had been made on the issue. | Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, who hosted the talks, said real progress had been made on the issue. |
| The Scottish Government described the talks as "constructive", but has not yet signed up to the proposals. | The Scottish Government described the talks as "constructive", but has not yet signed up to the proposals. |
| Plans for the new bridge were announced by the Scottish Government last year. | Plans for the new bridge were announced by the Scottish Government last year. |
| 'Country before party' | 'Country before party' |
| Holyrood ministers said they planned to pay for it from the £30bn annual block grant from Westminster, but they also asked the Treasury to advance them cash to spread the cost of the bridge. | Holyrood ministers said they planned to pay for it from the £30bn annual block grant from Westminster, but they also asked the Treasury to advance them cash to spread the cost of the bridge. |
| Westminster rejected SNP plans to borrow money from future budgets and pay it back over 20 years. | Westminster rejected SNP plans to borrow money from future budgets and pay it back over 20 years. |
| Speaking after the meeting between Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Yvette Cooper, Mr Murphy said up to £1bn had been identified that could be used potentially to help fund the crossing. | Speaking after the meeting between Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Yvette Cooper, Mr Murphy said up to £1bn had been identified that could be used potentially to help fund the crossing. |
| Mr Murphy said he hoped the SNP administration would put ''country before party'' and sign up to the proposals.The UK Government previously rejected the SNP's funding request | Mr Murphy said he hoped the SNP administration would put ''country before party'' and sign up to the proposals.The UK Government previously rejected the SNP's funding request |
| He added: "I was pleased I could host today's talks, which have produced a £1 billion lifeline for the new Forth crossing. | |
| "Today was an example of grown-up politics achieving grown-up results and the people of Scotland will welcome the sight of their two governments working together for the common good. | |
| "The UK Government put a £1 billion offer on the table which was taken seriously by John Swinney. | |
| "I welcome the approach he took to our discussions and the manner in which the UK Government's efforts to find a way through the issue was welcomed." | |
| A spokesman for Mr Swinney said talks over the funding issue would continue, adding: "It was a useful and constructive meeting as part of an on-going dialogue." | A spokesman for Mr Swinney said talks over the funding issue would continue, adding: "It was a useful and constructive meeting as part of an on-going dialogue." |
| The UK Government has said it was impossible to advance cash from a budget which did not yet exist, but has offered a potential compromise, allowing Scots ministers to keep savings made over the next three years to build up a cash reserve to help pay for the bridge. | The UK Government has said it was impossible to advance cash from a budget which did not yet exist, but has offered a potential compromise, allowing Scots ministers to keep savings made over the next three years to build up a cash reserve to help pay for the bridge. |
| But sources close to Mr Swinney said this was ''unrealistic''. | But sources close to Mr Swinney said this was ''unrealistic''. |
| The Scottish Government has argued the new bridge is a "generational" project, and must be allowed to go ahead without delaying other capital spending proposals. | The Scottish Government has argued the new bridge is a "generational" project, and must be allowed to go ahead without delaying other capital spending proposals. |