£1 billion new Forth Road Bridge offer spurned

SCOTTISH ministers have rejected Treasury a cash package to pay for the new Forth Road Bridge, putting the massive project in jeopardy.

Scottish finance secretary John Swinney told the UK Government that its plans to release £1 billion for the replacement crossing would not amount to any new money.

Yvette Cooper, the UK Treasury Secretary, had suggested that the Scottish Government might like to use a series of financial packages to help fund the £2bn bridge, which included giving the Scottish Government access to underspent budgets, and efficiency savings.

Yesterday, Mr Swinney wrote to Ms Cooper arguing that her plans would not make any difference to the funding problem.

"I do not believe that your suggestions have identified any methods of covering the cost of the project which would in practice ease the pressures which my initial approach to you last year was seeking to achieve," he wrote.