FOSSIL FUEL LEVY SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR BANKERS’ BONUSES

MONEY IS FOR GREEN JOBS FOR SCOTLAND NOW

An SNP MSP has expressed astonishment that money which could and should be invested in creating jobs in Scotland’s green energy industry could be paid out in bankers bonuses after an admission by the UK LibDem Energy Secretary Chris Huhne and his colleague Philip Wynn Owen that bankers' bonuses and public bailouts could be a feature of a new Green Investment Bank set up with money from Scotland's share of the fossil fuel levy.

The SNP believes the £200 million should be released now to be invested in Scotland's green energy industry creating new jobs and boosting the economy.

The admission that the Tory Government is planning extra bank bonuses come as LibDems failed in their promise to stop bankers bonuses and to release the fossil fuel levy money,

Commenting Mr McMillan said:

"Under the SNP Government Scotland's renewable energy industry has moved forward and we're seeing increased investment, new jobs and world leading technology developed in Scotland.

"I was astonished when a UK Lib Dem minister admitted that money from the fossil fuel levy will set up a bank that could see some of the bankers bonuses that are a matter of some debate at the moment.

"Scotland has a real opportunity to lead the renewables revolution and releasing this money to create green jobs rather than bankers bonuses would help advance that cause.

"Instead the LibDems have disappointingly reneged on another campaign promise and taken a lackadaisical approach to investing in jobs.

"What the people of Scotland want is investment in jobs to help economic recovery. We recognise the urgency of securing investment in the Scottish renewables sector and that is why the UK Government must act without delay and release the Fossil Fuel Levy to support investment in Scotland's green energy revolution rather than horde it for bankers bonuses."