The Finance Secretary, who will announce his sixth Budget in the Scottish Parliament next week, wants extra cash from Westminster for projects to provide jobs and stimulate the economy.

The list of 30 Scottish projects that have been sent to Chancellor George Osborne for consideration include these for Glasgow:

l £37m for improvements to the M8, M74 and M73.

l £37m for Clyde Gateway developments at Bridgeton Cross, Dalmarnock Cross, Rutherglen and Shawfield.

l £13m for Glasgow University Centre for Virology Research.

l £4m for the International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone

l £1.7m for Creative Clyde, the digital and technology enterprise area.

Mr Swinney said investing in what he calls "shovel ready" projects – ones that have been approved and granted the necessary permissions to allow construction work to begin – is the key to recovery.

He said next week's Budget would focus on doing all that is possible to stimulate the economy within the Budget and powers available to the Scottish Government.

He said: "Sustained recovery from the 2008 financial crisis has yet to take place.

"The approach of the UK Government is not working, we need sustained investment to enable us to stimulate the economy and generate tax revenue. Short term 'shovel ready' investment can provide short term stimulus."

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, making her first speech as Infrastructure Secretary, said her priority would be ensuring Scotland creates growth and jobs.

She said: "How can it be in the interests of Scotland for the decision on how much we can invest in jobs to be taken by a Tory Chancellor that is cutting capital budget in Scotland by 33%?"

Labour agreed investment in capital spending would stimulate the economy, but claimed the Scottish Government was responsible for thousands of job losses in the construction sector.

Ken McIntosh, Labour's finance spokesman, said it was ironic the Scottish Government was calling for cash from the UK Government to stimulate the economy while cutting housing budgets in Scotland.

He said: "In the last year we lost 12,000 construction workers. Some have come about because of the Scottish Government cuts to its own housing budget.

"Even Mr Swinney wouldn't be so thick skinned to deny there is a link between the housing budget cut and the job losses in the construction industry."

stewart.paterson@eveningtimes.co.uk