Labour today welcomed the report on Scotland's marine energy future from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, launched today at the Scottish Parliament.
 
The report calls for the Scottish Government to set up a £40 million fund to support the next stage in development of Scotland's leading-edge wave and tidal power technologies, following the winding up of a scheme set up by the last Scottish Executive in 2006-07.
 
Labour's Energy Spokesperson at Holyrood, Lewis Macdonald, called on Ministers to act on the report's recommendations.
 
"The Wave and Tidal Energy Scheme (WATES), launched in October 2006, provided £13.5m to nine Scottish marine power developers to get their projects underway.
 
"So far, SNP Ministers have given no indication of when or indeed whether they intend to provide funding support for the next stage of technology development by these companies.
 
"Alex Salmond sets great store by the Saltire Prize, which will certainly be appreciated by the company which wins that competition.
 
"What the Institution of Mechanical Engineers make clear in their report is that a single prize for a single project will not be enough.
 
"If a range on new marine renewable technologies is to come to market in Scotland, we will need something like a WATES 2 scheme to support the next development stage.
 
"I do not expect Ministers to accept all of the funding proposals in this report today. I hope they will consider them very seriously, however, and I am certain that these issues will be considered by the Scottish Parliament's Economy Committee when we take forward our Energy Inquiry into the New Year."

27 November 2008