Energy confusion

Published on 20/02/2012 00:00

Donald J Morrison of Portknockie, Buckie (“Fight for fishing”, Letters, 18 February), seems confused: he describes me as both an MSP and MEP and then says that my job has been “delegated” by Westminster.

I am in fact a Euro MP, elected by the people of Scotland to represent their interests in the European Parliament. I am not an MSP and I am not delegated by Westminster to do anything.

Mr Morrison is also confused about energy policy. He states that wind turbines “will generate clean power and wealth to the Scottish nation”.

In fact, the SNP government’s absurd target of 100 per cent electricity from renewables by 2020 has already driven up household electricity bills by 15 per cent in Scotland, costing every consumer an extra £500.

Rising energy costs are likely to destroy more Scottish jobs than the renewables sector can create, particularly when the fat subsidies paid to turbine manufacturers are mostly going to foreign companies in Germany, Denmark and China.

While I share Mr Morrison’s anxiety for the future of our fishing fleet, the colossal invasion of offshore wind farms planned by First Minister Alex Salmond without adequate consultation with fishermen will deny vast tracts of traditional fishing grounds to our fleet, while ruining our majestic seascape and landscape and destroying thousands of jobs in the tourist sector.

Is this the vision of “clean power and wealth” that Mr Morrison is dreaming of?

STRUAN STEVENSON

The European Parliament

Brussels