A SECOND phase of growth deals must be implemented across Scotland’s cities and regions, Holyrood’s economy committee said today.

There are currently 12 such deals in place in the country, co-funded by Westminster and Holyrood, which provide hundreds of millions in cash for infrastructure projects aimed at increasing tax revenue.

But the cross-party committee concluded that they needed “reform and renewal” to dispense with “slow and overly bureaucratic processes” delaying key projects.

Committee convener Colin Smyth called for “greater transparency and private sector involvement,” adding: “These should be the foundations of a second phase of deals that go further and deliver more.”

A British government spokesperson said more than £3 billion had been invested between both governments.

“City region and growth deals have been a huge success and they will continue to drive local growth in every part of Scotland, improving living standards for everyone,” they said.

A Scottish government spokesperson added: “We work consistently with the UK government and regional partners to explore how to build on this success.”