Historic Borderlands Growth Deal Signed

That the Parliament recognises the £450 million Borderlands Growth Deal, which was signed on 18 March 2021; praises what it considers this historic agreement negotiated by the UK and Scottish governments; believes that it will create crucial jobs and investment in the Scottish Borders and beyond, and demonstrates the value of the union and of the UK and Scottish governments working together; notes the key investments in Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, including a £10 million feasibility study into the completion of the Borders railway, the building of new business units in Coldstream, £11 million investment in the Destination Tweed project, aiming to join up an ambitious range of assets, facilities, businesses and activities along the river, the acquisition and servicing of land for business use at Hawick, £19 million from the UK Government to create the world’s first mountain bike innovation centre in Innerleithen, and critical improvements to mobile and digital connections, and understands that this investment will generate around £1.1 billion gross value added to the area and play crucial a crucial role in the UK-wide post-pandemic economic recovery.