NORTH-EAST FUNDING: GREENS URGE FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE JOBS
Responding to news of £500m over five to ten years for infrastructure and jobs in the North-east, Maggie Chapman, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens and MSP candidate for the North-east, said:
“The funding announced today by both Governments is urgently needed to give communities across the North-east hope for the future. We must see funding going towards infrastructure improvements and industries that can sustain high quality, well paid and long term jobs. Simply cutting taxes for the already heavily-subsidised oil industry won’t guarantee anyone’s job.
"The UK government's slash and burn approach to Scotland's renewables sector must be challenged. Focussing investment in fossil fuel extraction and exploration is exactly the wrong thing to do, especially as the economic stability of the oil and gas industry is not guaranteed.
“If we focus this funding on the opportunity Aberdeen has to become a global leader in oil and gas decommissioning and offshore renewables – a strategy long called for by the Scottish Greens – we can harness the skills of the North-east workforce as we prepare for the post-fossil fuel age. It’s also vital that any investment has a firm focus on reducing inequality, as far too many people in the North-east can’t afford the cost of housing and transport.”