John Mason, SNP MSP for Shettleston, has welcomed today’s announcement by the Scottish Government of significant new funding injections for housing, employability and capital projects, which will help to support economic recovery, create new jobs and boost growth.

Today’s announcement by Finance Secretary John Swinney of the remaining Barnett consequentials for 2011-12 includes 10 million pounds for affordable housing supply, a further 5 million pounds for employability programmes, 2 million pounds for finance portfolio to support capital projects, and 5 million pounds to accelerate a number of NHS capital projects.

Mr Mason, who is Deputy Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee, said:

“This funding announcement is one that very clearly confirms that economic recovery and job creation are right at the top of the SNP government’s priorities.

“The allocation of this funding is designed to ensure that every pound spent gets the maximum result when it comes to tackling unemployment in Scotland and investing in economic growth.

“Individually, these allocations bring a great deal to welcome. I am particularly pleased to see the very significant additional investment in employability programmes, which will be of enormous importance in ensuring that people who have lost their jobs in the recession get the skills and support they need to get back to work as quickly as possible.

“Taken as a whole, these allocations add up to a significant investment in Scotland’s economic recovery and jobs for the Scottish people. If the Scottish Government had the full range of financial and economic levers at its disposal it could do even more to support the priorities.”