News / European funding fears
DECISIONS over how European funding is spent in the highlands and islands could be centralised to Edinburgh.
Alex Salmond confirmed the issue was “under discussion” when challenged by local MSP Tavish Scott during First Minister question time in Holyrood on Thursday afternoon.
Scott said taking this decision away from local committees would take centralisation to a “whole new level”.
Since 2007 Shetland has received around £8 million of the £142 million EU structural funds spent across the region.
A further £172 million has been earmarked for the area over the next six years.
When confronted in parliament, Salmond would only say the SNP government was fully committed to Shetland and the rest of the Scottish islands.
“These matters are under discussion. I am sure Tavish Scott will look carefully at some of the recent substantial investments being made in Shetland, not least in the airport and other things which I could list.
“He will know of this government’s substantial commitment to Shetland and indeed the other island communities of Scotland. But these decisions are under discussion at the present moment.”
Scott said the first minister’s response had set all his alarm bells ringing.
“This government’s track record is to remove powers and decision making from local authorities. I fear that could now happen,” he said.
“In previous years, politicians from across the political party divide have united to make the case for a specific highlands and islands fund.
“I therefore cannot believe that the current SNP government would even consider abolishing this and lumping our area in with the rest of Scotland. This takes the Scottish government’s centralisation agenda to a whole new level.”
Orkney MSP Liam McArthur added: “Thanks to close working between UK and Scottish governments last year, the Commission agreed to make £172m available to the highlands and islands over the next six years.
“Decisions about how and where these funds should be spent must be taken locally.”
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