Briggs calls for debate around increasing Edinburgh’s Capital City Supplement and making City Bypass a “smart motorway”.
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative & Unionist MSP for Lothian, is calling for a debate to be had about increasing Edinburgh’s Capital City Supplement ahead of future Scottish Government budgets. The extra money was secured by the late Margo MacDonald MSP in 2007 in recognition of the extra burdens and responsibilities Edinburgh has as Scotland’s capital city. Miles also asked the Scottish Government to consider making the City-Bypass a “smart motorway” whereby the hard shoulder can be opened as a running lane at exceptionally busy times. Miles was speaking in a debate in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon on the Scottish Government’s budget.
Speaking in the debate Miles said:
“ One issue which I wish to raise today which I hope will be considered in future budgets is the Capital City supplement which Edinburgh receives in recognition of its capital city status and the extra burdens this places on the council.
“ I pay tribute to the determined and successful work undertaken by my friend the late Margo MacDonald, supported by city MSPs of all parties, in securing the supplement back in 2007.
“ I think we need to consider in future budgets whether this supplement is sufficient given our capital city’s international status and draw, the increasing number of official functions it has to support, extra policing responsibilities and the need to ensure our infrastructure can compete with other capital cities.
“ It is a sad economic reality that the only part of the Scottish economy currently growing strongly today is Edinburgh and the South East Region – it is therefore vital that we see the investment needed to sustain this and I believe priority must be given to transport projects to support jobs and growth across the region.
“ The Edinburgh City By-Pass has already reached capacity levels and we need to see forward thinking and forward planning to meet the future needs of the Region – for example with the A720 being made a Smart Motorway, allowing the hard shoulder to be used for running traffic at peak times to address congestion.
“ I would welcome a debate around both the city’s capital supplement and the Bypass and the backing of city MSPs from all the parties.”
