Additional funds 'essential' for the Capital

Published on Friday 12 September 2008 10:08

THE city council's most senior official today described extra Government funding for Edinburgh as "essential".

The Evening News revealed yesterday that a 33 million "shopping list" has been produced by the local authority, outlining what it needs to cover the cost of the extra burden borne by Edinburgh because of what it does for the whole of Scotland.

Finance Secretary John Swinney has already pledged to introduce a new "capital city supplement" in the Scottish Government's next budget, and the council's study will now be sent to ministers for consideration. Council chief executive Tom Aitchison said: "The cabinet secretary and the Scottish Government have publicly stated their acceptance of accepted the case that we have made for the principle of a capital city supplement.

"The funding that we are looking for is essential to maintaining Edinburgh's role as an iconic national capital, and it would be an investment in Scotland's prosperity as well as an investment in the city."

"The submission is well-supported and robust and based on evidence, and we would expect to have further discussion with the Government on the detail included in the case."