Letter: Saltire Prize facts

I WRITE with regard to an article by Lesley Riddoch (21 March) in which she stated that "The Crown Estate even decides eligibility for the coveted Saltire Prize and they'll pick the winner - not the Scottish Government." That is not correct.

The Crown Estate does not decide eligibility for the Saltire Prize and will not determine the winner. The Crown Estate commissioners have a key role in leasing sites for wave and tidal development and clearly this is an essential starting point for any marine energy developer or Saltire Prize competitor.

However, the Saltire Prize Competition and Challenge, including eligibility criteria, have been set by the Saltire Prize Challenge Committee, whose membership includes eminent national and international scientific and industry experts.

The Challenge Committee has also worked in partnership with Scottish Government.

The Saltire Prize winner will be the team that achieves the greatest volume of electrical output over the set minimum hurdle of 100GWh over a continuous two-year period, using only the power of the sea - the Saltire Prize Challenge Committee has full responsibility for judging the winner of the Saltire Prize.

(PROF) ANNE GLOVER CBE FRSE FRSA

Chief scientific adviser for Scotland

Chair of the Saltire Prize Challenge Committee

Regent Road

Edinburgh