UK GOVERNMENT MUST RELEASE FOSSIL FUEL FUND.

UK GOVERNMENT MUST RELEASE FOSSIL FUEL FUND.

A BLOCK OF SNP MPs CAN REMOVE WESTMINSTER BLOCKAGE,

Mike Weir MP, SNP Westminster Spokesperson on Energy, has strongly backed the call by Scottish Renewables for the Chancellor to release £176 million from the Scottish Fossil Fuel Levy fund to help tackle climate change and develop the renewable industry.

Commenting on the call Mr Weir said:

“Scotland has huge potential to develop renewable energy from wind, wave and tidal power.

“On the one hand UK ministers tell us of the need to move to a low carbon economy, but on the other they refuse to release to the Scottish Government a fund to help us to develop our renewable potential without a corresponding cut in Scotland’s budget. That makes absolutely no sense, because this fund can only be accessed by the Scottish Government and it can only be used for renewables projects in Scotland.

“Scotland has shown the way with world leading climate change legislation. We have rejected the dangerous mirage of nuclear energy, and are ensuring that we have the clean green energy to ensure a low carbon future.

“The intransigence of the Chancellor in refusing to release this fund demonstrates that we need to intensify the pressure so that common sense prevails – and that a block of SNP MPs at the General Election can remove the Westminster blockage.”