Scottish Energy Secretary Michael Matheson has insisted that the Scottish Government is “doing everything we can” to ensure offshore energy contracts benefit Scotland, after criticism that they were awarded to overseas firms.
Earlier this week, the ScotWind leasing process awarded contracts worth £700m to 17 projects for new offshore wind farms along Scotland’s coasts, including deals with BP and Shell.
Matheson failed to answer whether there would be any specific, binding commitments for winning bidders to deliver investment and jobs in Scotland, after being urged to make sure the benefits are not “squandered”.
