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Support for bridge borrowing bid Talks planned over Forth crossing
(about 11 hours later)
The Scottish Government has published a list of organisations which back its call for full borrowing powers. Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has invited the Scottish Government and the UK Treasury for talks to discuss how the new Forth crossing will be funded.
Westminster has rejected the SNP's plan to borrow money from future budgets to fund the £2bn new crossing over the Forth and pay it back over 20 years. Westminster last week rejected the SNP's plan to borrow money from future budgets to fund the £2bn bridge, paying it back over 20 years.
Among supporters of the plan are the STUC and former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish. Mr Murphy said it was important to make progress on the issue.
A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond pointed to the Northern Ireland Assembly's borrowing powers. It comes as the Scottish Government produced a list of bodies which support its call for full borrowing powers.
The UK Treasury rejected the request to borrow from future budgets as "not a credible option".The UK Treasury rejected the request to borrow from future budgets as "not a credible option".
'Efficient funding' Mr Murphy said he thought progress could be made.
The chief secretary to the treasury, Yvette Cooper, suggested alternatives, such as building up a big underspend or using a PPP tie-up with the private sector - a policy which the SNP has heavily criticised. He said: "I'm inviting the SNP government and the treasury to talks despite the way in which the SNP's played politics with this. The sums don't add up. They are trying to borrow money against budgets that don't even yet exist over a period of two decades.
"But despite the fact the SNP sums don't add up, it is important that we do make progress which is why I'm inviting them to these talks. Because it is important that we build this new Forth crossing, we want the right crossing at the right price. I think we can make progress."
Finance Secretary John Swinney said he was delighted about the meetings but was in no doubt that about the right way forward.
He said: "The sensible way to proceed is to undertake this bridge project under traditional government procurement and we've got the money to pay for that in our capital budgets.
"What's important is that we have a sensible and constructive discussion with the treasury about spreading the cost of the bridge over a number of years to ensure that we can support other capital projects at the same time. I'd be delighted to discuss that issue with the treasury because it reflects a sensible way forward."
Borrowing powers
The STUC, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish have added their names to a list of public bodies who support the Scottish Government's call for full borrowing powers.
A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said: "If we have responsibility for major issues such as funding a new Forth Bridge - the biggest capital project in Scotland's history - then it makes perfect sense for us to have the financial responsibility to match.A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said: "If we have responsibility for major issues such as funding a new Forth Bridge - the biggest capital project in Scotland's history - then it makes perfect sense for us to have the financial responsibility to match.
"What this issue clearly illustrates is the need for the Scottish Parliament to have borrowing powers, so that we have the ability to phase the funding of major capital projects sensibly and efficiently.""What this issue clearly illustrates is the need for the Scottish Parliament to have borrowing powers, so that we have the ability to phase the funding of major capital projects sensibly and efficiently."
He said Scottish Government should be able to make its own decisions on how to reflate the economy during the current downturn and said the Northern Ireland Assembly's had borrowing powers of up to £2.5bnHe said Scottish Government should be able to make its own decisions on how to reflate the economy during the current downturn and said the Northern Ireland Assembly's had borrowing powers of up to £2.5bn
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy , the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, Reform Scotland, the Scottish Council Foundation, Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott, the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church are also among the groups said to be backing the government. The Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, Reform Scotland, the Scottish Council Foundation, Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott, the Church of Scotland and the Scottish Episcopal Church are also among the groups said to be backing the government.