Dundee West MP Chris Law has called for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister following media reports that the UK Government may not sign off on Tay Cities Deal funding until the Autumn Statement later this year, almost two years after terms were initially signed.
The Tay Cities Deal, of which the UK Government are contributing Ā£150 million in funding, will deliver funding for a number of long-term projects across Dundee and the wider Tayside area, supporting over 6000 jobs and unlocking hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment.
Boris Johnson was grilled on the future of the Tay Cities Deal by Mr Law at Prime Ministers Questions last month, subsequently writing to the Dundee MP. Although he reaffirmed the UK Governmentās commitment to the Deal, he was unable to offer a precise date as to when delivery of the Deal would begin.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Law pressed for a face-to-face meeting, stressing the importance that the Tay Cities Deal will have for the regionās post-COVID recovery and the urgent need for a firm date for delivery of funding.
Dundee West MP Chris Law said:
āI completely agree that the Tay Cities Deal will play a vital role in not just bringing jobs and investment to our local area, but in Taysideās recovery from COVID-19.
āBut, almost two years after terms were signed, the UK Government continue to dither and delay delivery of funding to projects across our city and wider area that were ready to start months ago.
āIt is utterly inexplicable that the UK Government can find the time to sing the praises of City Deals in Scotland but not the time to finally deliver Deals started years ago.
āThe people of Tayside need to see actual action, not just warm words from the UK Government. I have asked the Prime Minister to meet with me to explain why his Government continues to delay delivery of this vital funding.ā
Chris Law 