GLASGOW is a great city and this Scottish Government is working hard to make sure we grow its economy, to create opportunities for its young people and protect households from Tory cuts.

In last week's budget, and in the pages of the Evening Times, Finance Secretary John Swinney set out how we will support Glasgow.

Glasgow City Council receives more money for its citizens than any other wholly mainland local authority and we are working together on key projects, not just the Commonwealth Games but on schemes to help young people into work and the redevelopment of key services like the Subway, the new City of Glasgow College and the new South Glasgow Hospital.

In a move that will protect frontline services and jobs, and secure a pay rise for the city's nurses and hospital staff, we have protected funding for the frontline NHS in Glasgow, and, earlier this week, we provided support for the redevelopment of Garscadden Primary School.

All parts of government and all local authorities, just like households have difficult choices to make in the current financial climate.

That's why as part of our 2011 Spending Review we made sure that, despite a cut to the Scottish Government budget, the share of funding for local authorities is not being reduced.

That funding, which will ensure delivery of the council tax freeze, will also help Glasgow maintain teacher numbers and deliver on its other commitments to the people of the city.

In managing that money I hope that Glasgow will do so in a way that is efficient, promotes economic growth and supports vulnerable members of the community.

The Scottish Government is doing our part to promote economic growth and protect the vulnerable by investing in apprenticeships, supporting small business, protecting the Education Maintenance Allowance that supports young people at college, and ensuring personal care and bus travel remain free for our older people.

We are doing everything we can against a Tory Government determined to cut public services, but it is only as an independent nation, with control of all our resources, that Scotland, and Glasgow, will truly be able to protect its citizens.