INDUSTRY & ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS APPEAL FOR RELEASE OF FOSSIL FUND

For Immediate Release – Friday 15 October 2010

Attn:   NEWS DESKS
          POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS

SNP URGE CHANCELLOR FOR CSR RENEWABLES JOBS BOOST

The SNP has welcomed a united appeal by Scottish industry and environmental leaders for the release of the Fossil Fuel Levy Fund to support jobs and green investment.

Pointing to a letter published today (Friday) in The Times, signed by ten leading business and environmental figures (detailed in notes below), SNP Westminster Energy spokesperson Mike Weir MP called on the Chancellor to announce the release of the fund as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review next week.

Mr Weir said:

“The coalition government must listen to this coalition of industry and environmental leaders and release this fund. Releasing this money to support jobs and green investment could be one green shoot amongst the scorched earth of cuts expected in the CSR next week.

“With Scotland bearing the brunt of savage budget cuts by the coalition, it is even more important that this fund is released. It is disappointing that ConDem coalition has so far had nothing to say about when Scotland would be allowed to finally access to this vital fund.

“Boosting Scotland’s renewables sector represents a massive opportunity to return to growth. By releasing the levy, the UK Government could help to kick start the green energy revolution – generating revenue and creating jobs in Scotland.

“Instead, we have the same old Tories, now helped by the Liberal Democrats, cutting too far and too fast and leaving the poorest households to bear the brunt of tax rises, benefit cuts and the loss of public services and jobs.”

ENDS

Notes

The letter is as follows:

Sir,

The growth of renewable energy as part of a balanced, sustainable, affordable, secure energy supply offers Scotland and the rest of the UK three crucial benefits: a contribution to energy security, reduced carbon emissions, and economic opportunities.

However, it is clear that we will only secure the last of these by building a stronger supply chain to the industry, with strategic investment in deployment and manufacturing facilities in ports and harbours around the UK critical to growing existing suppliers and attracting new businesses from overseas.

In Scotland we have a carefully researched and evidenced business plan to achieve this – the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan – which sets out significant economic benefits to Scotland from a combined public and private sector investment of £220m, which both respects our natural heritage, and spreads the benefits to all corners of the economy.

The public sector share of this could be more than met by the release of the Scottish Fossil Fuel Levy Fund, which has been built up since 1996 by a levy on Scottish electricity consumers. This resource, which is ring-fenced for the “promotion of renewable energy” in Scotland, has never been released to the Scottish Government without the threat of a corresponding cut in wider public expenditure.

As a group of organizations dedicated to the sustainable economic development and wellbeing of Scotland, we call on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to release this money for its intended use. We believe that at a time of major public expenditure cuts, the Comprehensive Spending Review is a perfect opportunity for the coalition Government to stimulate and support a key sector for Scotland’s future social, environmental and economic wellbeing by releasing this fund.

Liz Cameron, Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce
Dr Richard Dixon, Director, WWF Scotland
Stuart Housden, Director, RSPB Scotland
Dr Peter T. Hughes, Chief Executive, Scottish Engineering
Duncan Mclaren, Chief Executive, Friends of the Earth Scotland
Iain M. McMillan, Director, CBI Scotland
Simon Milne, Chief Executive, Scottish Wildlife Trust
Dr Lesley Sawers, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Development and Industry
Grahame Smith, General Secretary, STUC
Niall Stuart, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

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