To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to redevelop town centres across Scotland. (S6O-04964)

We want our town centres to be revitalised. That is backed up by policies such as our leading town centre first principle, the delivery of the town centre action plan and provision of support through the national planning framework 4.

We also provide direct financial support for town centres through the regeneration capital investment programme, the place-based investment programme and the regeneration capital grant fund. That includes investment of more than £62 million this year alone to help transform vacant properties, bring them back into productive use and unlock opportunities for housing, business and enterprise activity in town centres.

I am sure that many colleagues across the chamber, including the Deputy First Minister, will now be familiar with my Constituency, which mirrors many towns throughout Scotland that have been starved of funds and neglected over the past 18 years when the Scottish National Party has been running Scotland.

Members will also know that, although there remains a distinct Hamiltonian identity, the town centre is in much need of regeneration—the issue was in the top 3 during my election campaign. However, thanks to budding potential from renewables, digital, cybersecurity and infrastructure projects, Hamilton is primed for growth—

Question.

—from new industries. As a result, the town centre must be fit for purpose and able to embrace the growth. At the same time—

I need a question, Mr Russell.

South Lanarkshire Council has undertaken a comprehensive consultation and allocated £8 million to kick start the redevelopment. However, it needs Scottish Government—

I need a question, Mr Russell.

Can the Scottish Government match the £8 million that South Lanarkshire Council has put in?

It is for South Lanarkshire Council to develop plans for Hamilton town centre, and it sounds as though it is doing so. I am aware that the council published details of that 15-year master plan for Hamilton town centre and that there was strong support when the plans were consulted on.

South Lanarkshire Council has received more than £27 million of regeneration capital investment since 2014, which includes £3.4 million through the town centre fund.

We will continue to work with local authorities such as South Lanarkshire Council on their priorities.

I have a number of supplementaries. I will try to get in as many as I can.

There are many town and city centres, such as in Perth in my region, where there are a large number of former commercial premises that will never come back into use for retail. They could potentially be converted to residential properties, but the current process for doing that is cumbersome, bureaucratic, expensive and time consuming. Can the Scottish Government look at some way of streamlining the planning process to make it easier for the owners of those properties to transfer them from commercial use to residential use?

There are a number of points that I agree with, not least because of the potential to revitalise Perth town centre, of which I have great memories.

There are a number of non-domestic rates incentives for bringing vacant properties back into use. We have also gone through a consultation process on compulsory purchase of property that has remained empty and derelict for some time.

If there are particular suggestions on how to streamline the process to enable residential development to take place, I am certainly open to them, and I imagine that the planning Minister is as well.

The retail sector is vital to Scotland’s economy and supports our local communities with services, amenities and employment opportunities.

Can the Deputy First Minister say any more about what the Scottish Government is doing to support Scottish businesses and regenerate our local areas, in particular through the investing in communities fund, which has provided £336,000 for New Start Highland in my Constituency?

I am a big fan of New Start Highland—I saw some of its representatives at an event on Monday.

The member is absolutely right to talk about how critical the retail sector is. It is right at the heart of our agenda for economic growth. We have provided funding for the Scotland Loves Local campaign, the regeneration funding that I mentioned and, of course, the competitive non-domestic rates regime.

The investing in communities fund targets the most disadvantaged communities to deliver projects, services and activities that address poverty and disadvantage. We are providing more than £9 million in funding this year, which makes an enormously valuable contribution to organisations such as New Start Highland.

I hope that the Deputy First Minister will be as appalled as I was to learn that Port Glasgow was awarded the dreaded carbuncle award for the most dismal town in Scotland. Thankfully, sense has been seen. There has been a huge U-turn, and the award has been ditched in favour of the heart on your sleeve award. However, there is a serious point behind all this. Many small towns and high streets feel unloved and forgotten, and their Government in Edinburgh feels distant to them.

What more can the Scottish Government do to ensure that the so-called carbuncles of Scotland’s retail deserts can be turned into busy, buoyant and bustling town centres instead?

I put on record how much I love Port Glasgow—I am a huge fan of Port Glasgow. I have probably spent more time than many travelling to Port Glasgow in the years that I have been a Minister, for very obvious reasons.

The member mentioned a number of different points that have driven the challenges for town centres, including the move to online shopping, which is a challenge for the retail sector in particular. I am very committed to working with local authorities and local leaders on the ground to deliver master plans or transformation for those areas.

Question 4 was withdrawn.