Deputy First Minister John Swinney has given the go ahead for approximately £330 million of capital investment projects.

Following an Office of National Statistics review of proposals developed by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), Mr Swinney announced 12 projects (ten new schools, two new health projects) can now proceed to financial close.

The twelve projects affected by the classification review are:

• Lothian Health Centre bundle (NHS Lothian) - £25m

• Inverclyde Care Home (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) - £8m

• Kelso High School (Borders Council) - £20m

• Newbattle High School (Midlothian Council) - £35m

• Baldragon Academy (Dundee City Council) - £25m

• Elgin High School (Moray Council) - £25m

• Dalbeattie Learning Campus (Dumfries and Galloway Council) – £25m

• Barrhead High School (East Renfrewshire Council) - £25m

• Our Lady & St Patrick’s High School (West Dunbartonshire Council) - £25m

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• Ayr Academy (South Ayrshire Council) - £25m

• Campbeltown Grammar and Oban High School (Argyll and Bute Council) - £55m

• East Ayrshire Learning Campus (Kilmarnock Academy) (East Ayrshire Council) - £40m

Plans for the projects were put on hold earlier this year when advice was sought from the ONS about the impact of revision to European accounting guidance.

Mr Swinney said: "In light of the continuing constraint being applied to public finances – including capital budgets – we will continue to take forward programmes supporting additional investment in our economy and our asset base, creating jobs and enhancing services.

"From Elgin to Kelso, these twelve projects – worth around £330 million – will make an enormous difference in their communities, not just in the jobs that their construction will bring but in the health and education benefits they will provide to local people."

In addition, Mr Swinney updated parliament on the Government's position on the Not for Profit Distribution element of its revenue-financed infrastructure programme – including a repeated reassurance that there will be no impact on the delivery of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

"More widely in the NPD programme, it has become clear that a rapid reversal of the ONS’s public classification of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project under the revised Eurostat rules will not be possible," he said.

"I have asked SFT to continue to review options for the potential amendment of the AWPR project and potentially other NPD projects in the light of ONS’s welcome decision on the revised hub model."

(LM/MH)