TORIES' GREEN CUTS: HARVIE URGES HOLYROOD INQUIRY
Patrick Harvie, Scottish Green MSP for Glasgow, has today (3 Aug) written to the conveners of two key Holyrood committees, urging them to conduct an inquiry into the impact of recent UK Government decisions on Scotland’s renewable energy and climate change targets.
In recent weeks a range of measures have been announced by Conservative ministers, including scrapped subsidies for new onshore wind developments, cutting back on payments for solar and ending both the Green Deal and the Zero Carbon Homes plan.
The UK Government is also switching Vehicle Excise Duty to a flat rate, instead of rates based on vehicle pollution levels, and is privatising the Edinburgh-headquartered Green Investment Bank.
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
"I have written to the conveners of Holyrood's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, and the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, urging them to consider a joint piece of work to understand how these UK Government decisions will impact on Scotland. David Cameron famously said he wanted to 'cut the green crap' but there is a real danger that Scottish economic opportunities will be lost as a result, and our efforts to meet renewable energy and climate change targets will be harmed.
"Crucially, it is important to establish what scope the Scottish Parliament has for taking a different direction from the anti-green agenda at Westminster. Rather than appearing helpless, Holyrood should be informed of the options available to keep our low-carbon ambitions on track."