Highlands and Islands MSP, Edward Mountain has criticised the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism’s lack of clarity over the funding arrangement to repair the Cairngorm Funicular Railway.
During a session of the Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee today, Edward Mountain MSP pressed the Cabinet Secretary for more clarity on HIE’s budget to repair the Funicular Railway.
Edward Mountain, who is also Convenor of the REC Committee, scrutinised whether HIE will receive sufficient funding from the Scottish Government to complete the repair works.
Edward Mountain MSP asked: “On HIE’s budget, have you allowed in there any costs for the repair of the Funicular Railway?
The Cabinet Secretary replied: “We certainly have worked through this with HIE very carefully to deliver the budget that is required.” He added: “the additional £4.7 million comprises £3.9 million for the reinstatement of the funicular and £0.8 million for investment in green jobs through the Green Jobs Fund.”
Edward Mountain MSP then asked: “On that basis there will be a requirement to find somewhere in excess of £10 million in the following year for the Funicular Railway, because the overall repair cost is estimated between £15-£20million. Would that be made available earlier… if the repairs were completed earlier?”
The Cabinet Secretary answered: “We have worked with HIE to ensure the sufficiency of the budget to deliver the Funicular Railway as quickly as possible. He continued: “We all want to see that that work is done as quickly as possible. I’m very pleased that the contractors, Balfour Beatty, actually began the work very promptly indeed. But I don’t believe there’s any budgetary issue.”
The Cabinet Secretary then promised to write to the REC Committee with the full budgetary arrangements for the fixing of the Funicular Railway.
Edward Mountain then explained that around 50 per cent of HIE’s budget increase for 2021/22 will be allocated to the Funicular Railway and stated: “I’m concerned that the HIE budget is not quite as rosy as you paint it, Cabinet Secretary.”
The Cabinet Secretary said: “Let me provide the Committee with the full answers as it is quite a complicated issue. There’s many aspects to it. I would prefer just to give a copperplate answer.”
Following the session, Edward Mountain MSP said:
“Fergus Ewing couldn’t say for certain when the Funicular Railway repairs will be completed or what the funding arrangements for those repairs are.
“HIE will only receive £3.9 million this year for repairs, but what about the additional £10 million that is still required?
“Given his lack of clarity today, we now know why Fergus Ewing doesn’t want a public inquiry into the Funicular Railway.”
