CBI DIRECTOR CALLS TO RE-INTRODUCE FORTH BRIDGE TOLLS IS WRONG.
GRAY MUST CLARIFY CUTS POSITION - LABOUR THREATEN FREE CARE AND TOLLS.
Commenting on the suggestion by CBI Scotland Director Iain McMillan that GARL should be reinstated and paid for by reintroducing tolls on the Forth Road Bridge, mutualising Scottish Water and scrapping free personal care and Labour's support for the CBI's position, Central Fife MSP Tricia Marwick said:
“I totally disagree with Iain McMillan. People in Fife – including many businesses and the Federation of Small Businesses – haven’t campaigned for 40 years to abolish tolls to see them reintroduced to pay for a rail service that will be of little benefit to anyone - including ordinary folk in Glasgow as well as my constituents.
"And Iain Gray must now answer straight up - does he agree that Free Personal Care, the abolition of tolls and Scottish Water should all be sacrificed for 1 mile of train line. And why are they singling out the Forth and Tay Bridges
“As for mutualising Scottish Water, this would not save public money for several years and so is irrelevant for GARL. Mr McMillan has previously said money from mutualising Scottish Water should pay for a new Forth crossing. So where is he suggesting the funding come from now?
“Iain McMillan’s stance is both odd and confused. During the previous administration, Iain McMillan said that if there was a squeeze in public spending, investment in the roads network must come before airport links.
“Now, for the first time since devolution, the Scottish Government is facing a real terms cut in the resources available to us because of UK Government cuts.
"It is time for opposition parties and those who want to see GARL brought back to put up genuine proposals not pie in the sky spending or to accept the financial reality we now live in.
“It is not affordable to commit to GARL now in the face of these Westminster-imposed cuts, when major capital projects such as the M74 completion, the M80 upgrade, Forth Replacement Crossing, rail infrastructure improvements, the schools programme, and the new Southern General Hospital must be allocated the capital they need to go ahead.”
More info.
1. A news article showing small business support for abolishing Forth Road Bridge tolls:
Small businesses attack rising bridge tolls
http://news.scotsman.com/
2. Iain McMillan’s previous suggested spending area for mutualising Scottish Water:
CBI chief: sell Scottish Water to pay for bridge
http://news.scotsman.com/
3. In the Scotsman of 8th October 2005 Iain McMillan said the following if there was a squeeze in public spending, investment in the roads network must come before airport links:
“Trams for Edinburgh are not as important as completing the trunk road network. If the Scottish Executive can find the money for [rail and tram projects] without compromising more important infrastructure projects, then so be it. We do support the proposed rail link to Edinburgh Airport and the city's trams, but if there is a squeeze on public expenditure then the motorway network has to come first.”
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