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The UK Conservative Government is investing in people and communities throughout Scotland and across the whole of the United Kingdom.

It will mean an average of £4.6 billion extra per year to Holyrood. The announcement supports public services by delivering the largest ever Scottish Government Budget since devolution which is fantastic for communities across Angus.

Not only that but the Budget will also see a rise in wages for hundreds of thousands of Scots on lower incomes while supporting Scottish businesses with £150 million of finance. In addition, funding from the UK Government will support important local projects that will help Angus to rebuild from the effects of the pandemic.

This UK Conservative Government has delivered a package that can deliver a strong economic recovery from the pandemic for Scotland. It is now for the SNP Government to set out how they will use this record funding to support Scotland’s struggling public services. All the SNP do is criticise because of their obsession with division.

The Levelling Up fund was decried by Kate Forbes for undermining devolution, yet the SNP local councils have readily accepted the money to aid disadvantaged local communities and strengthen the Union. Unlike the SNP, the Scottish Conservatives welcome the Levelling Up Fund and its aim of lifting up deprived areas and strengthening the Union, as well as the extra spending on Scotland.

Meanwhile, I have written to Nicola Sturgeon urging her to explore all available avenues to stop a surge in drink spiking across the north-east. I have asked the First Minister to review whether the law sufficiently captures offences related to spiking and to offer more support to venues and staff.

I have also urged her to look into why conviction rates relating to spiking are so poor while also assessing how more data can be published on the issue.

While women are taking every step possible to safeguard themselves and their friends, we need to look with greater urgency at the individuals who are perpetrating these offences.