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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Government faces transport battle | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The SNP government is facing its first political battle in parliament as it makes a move to scrap tolls on the Tay and Forth road bridges. | |
| The minority administration is thought to have enough support to get rid of the charges. | The minority administration is thought to have enough support to get rid of the charges. |
| But rivals are ganging up on it to stop the Edinburgh airport rail scheme and trams project being derailed. | But rivals are ganging up on it to stop the Edinburgh airport rail scheme and trams project being derailed. |
| The government has expressed concerns about the projects, although final decisions have not been taken. | The government has expressed concerns about the projects, although final decisions have not been taken. |
| Ministers have doubts that they will offer value for money, but Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have joined forces to demand the projects are not delayed or cancelled without good cause. | Ministers have doubts that they will offer value for money, but Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have joined forces to demand the projects are not delayed or cancelled without good cause. |
| 'Arbitrary' decisions | 'Arbitrary' decisions |
| The SNP said residents and businesses in the east of Scotland have been unfairly treated following the removal of tolls on the Erskine Bridge, over the Clyde, and on the Skye Bridge by the previous Scottish Executive. | The SNP said residents and businesses in the east of Scotland have been unfairly treated following the removal of tolls on the Erskine Bridge, over the Clyde, and on the Skye Bridge by the previous Scottish Executive. |
| A Labour amendment to parliament supported by Tory and Lib Dem MSPs, as well as independent Margo MacDonald, has insisted that toll removal should go hand-in-hand with funding options for a replacement Forth crossing. | A Labour amendment to parliament supported by Tory and Lib Dem MSPs, as well as independent Margo MacDonald, has insisted that toll removal should go hand-in-hand with funding options for a replacement Forth crossing. |
| It also states that the existing Edinburgh tram and airport rail projects, which have already received parliamentary approval, "should not be arbitrarily delayed or cancelled and that all future major transport project proposals be properly costed, evaluated and prioritised." | It also states that the existing Edinburgh tram and airport rail projects, which have already received parliamentary approval, "should not be arbitrarily delayed or cancelled and that all future major transport project proposals be properly costed, evaluated and prioritised." |
| However, Finance Secretary John Swinney said the government would support the amendment, as it would never decide matters on an "arbitrary basis". | However, Finance Secretary John Swinney said the government would support the amendment, as it would never decide matters on an "arbitrary basis". |
| He said: "A decision on the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link and trams can only be taken when the government is in a position to present full financial information to the parliament in a considered fashion. That is the job of government." | He said: "A decision on the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link and trams can only be taken when the government is in a position to present full financial information to the parliament in a considered fashion. That is the job of government." |