Alex Salmond says the new Forth crossing will boost economy

Published on Friday 25 March 2011 18:07

HARNESSING green energy and investing in projects such as the new Forth crossing will "reindustrialise" Scotland, Alex Salmond declared yesterday.

The SNP leader said the country could use its engineering skills to lead a "renewable revolution" for this century.

Speaking from South Queensferry, he said: "Soon, another crossing will span these waters. It will be more than just an iconic structure linking north and south, vital though that is. This is Scotland's bridge of recovery."

He said the bridge plan was a 1.5 billion investment which would bring about 3,000 jobs.

Mr Salmond accused the Tory-Liberal Democrat Government of using "Scotland's oil" to bail out the UK, insisting revenues from the North Sea could have delivered a 50p cut in fuel duty in Scotland "with money to spare".

However Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: "Alex Salmond's obsession with oil is damaging Scotland's economy and damaging our environment. The problem is that he and his predecessors have built an economy based on a finite commodity, and no tax changes can alter that.

"Each penny off fuel duty is the equivalent of 500 million more in cuts to public services."