Kirsty McNeill

My hon. Friend will know that that is felt right across the city region, and across other city regions in Scotland. The Scottish Government seem simply addicted to the centralisation of and hoarding of power. We have made an argument to the people of Scotland that has been incredibly well-received: they live in places that they know and love best, and they want the people they elect locally to have greater power. We are in ongoing dialogue with the Scottish Government but their driving political imperative is nation building, not place shaping. That stands in sharp contrast to the approach of this Labour Government, which is to put power in the hands of communities to change the places that they know and love so well. Scotland needs proper devolution inside Scotland, not just to it. My hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow South will find no greater champion of that local power agenda than me. We should at all times be guided by the fundamental principle that powers over local services and projects are often best exercised as close as humanly possible to the people whose daily lives they affect. The Scottish people need all levels of their Government to work together to make their lives and communities better. Strong, effective councils and empowered regional voices are key to a prosperous Scotland. We are fully committed to working alongside our local partners in the months and years ahead to deliver that better future for the Glasgow city region and beyond. Before I close, I want to reassure the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) that I am in ongoing dialogue with Northern Ireland Office Ministers about how we can take lessons from the city deal programme and scale them UK-wide. My hon. Friend the Member for West Dunbartonshire (Douglas McAllister) made a very important point about the strategic sites right along the Clyde. I happily visited one such site in his constituency with him. We are fully appraised of the opportunities right along the river. I thank the hon. Member for Glasgow North for securing this debate and thank all hon. Members who have spoken. The UK Government’s investment of over £870 million into the Glasgow city region over the next 10 years, combined with empowering local spending decisions, has already delivered a truly transformational impact that can be felt in every corner of the region, but this UK Government do not look backwards. Instead we continue to focus on progressing delivery and achieving the economic growth outcomes that will make sure that the Glasgow city region, Scotland, and the UK as a whole can thrive. To deliver more we must seize all opportunities. That includes having a meaningful conversation on the future of regional devolution, because together we still have so much more to gain. Let us seize this moment, look to the future and continue to deliver for the Glasgow city region. Question put and agreed to.