Give cities more powers or risk falling behind, David Mundell warns ministers
Scotland's cities will fall behind those in the rest of the UK unless the Scottish Government hands them more powers, the Scottish Secretary has said.
Scotland's cities will fall behind those in the rest of the UK unless the Scottish Government hands them more powers, the Scottish Secretary has said.
David Mundell urged Holyrood ministers to look at models such as the Northern Powerhouse in England and consider greater devolution in areas such as transport and health.
Mr Mundell highlighted that following the Chancellor's Autumn Statement, the UK Government has either agreed or entered into discussions over city deals with each of Scotland's cities.
Speaking at the the 19th annual State of the City Economy Conference in Glasgow, he argued the opportunities they offered could be strengthened by handing more control to local communities.
Mr Mundell said: "The basic principle of devolution is at its heart radical, simple but radical, that the people best-placed to take decisions for Glasgow and its future are not in Westminster, not in Holyrood, but here in Glasgow.
"Let's be honest, it shouldn't be radical but humility doesn't come naturally to a lot of politicians ... and it certainly doesn't sit well by some in our SNP Scottish Government.
"But the devolution agenda demands just that. It demands that we know our strengths, know our value and know our limits.
"The city deals in Scotland are part of a wider programme of devolution across the United Kingdom, most notably the Northern Powerhouse.
"The deals there are seeing far wider powers and budgets being handed down along with changing governance structures in some of England's greatest cities.
"In Scotland a lot of the equivalent powers and budgets are held by the Scottish Government, areas like transport, health and the criminal justice system.
"But although Holyrood is gaining powers and budgets from Westminster, it's not handing anything down to the communities in Scotland.
"In cities like this, I understand how frustrating that can be. True devolution doesn't mean sucking power down from Westminster only to hoard it at Holyrood.
"Glasgow region city deal was a huge step forward and it is the start of a bright period in Glasgow's history, but it could be the beginning of something much greater.
"That's why I urge the Scottish Government to embrace the principles of devolution with a whole heart as the UK Government has done across England.
"Because otherwise, however much we try with the levers that remain to us, Scotland's towns and cities will fall behind those in the rest of the UK."
Mr Mundell said the Scottish Government would have an extra £800 million to invest in Scotland's infrastructure as a result of the Autumn Statement.
He said: "It will be for Derek Mackay and the Scottish Government to set out how it will use this substantial additional funding for Scotland in their budget in December.
"The Scottish Government now have more funding, more powers and the economic security of the broad shoulders of the UK.
"I hope they will choose to support businesses ... rethinking their large business supplement and investing in the infrastructure you rely on.
"I hope they will choose to support hard-working Scots, rethinking their income tax rise on middle-income families. But it is their decision and we will all be watching on December 15."