SNP MP Angus MacNeil, Na h-Eileanan an Iar has written to the Minister at Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP asking that procurement plans that the company SSE gave when securing the Contracts for Difference (CfD) to build an offshore windfarm be made public and enforced by the UK Government. The UK Government must release all of SSEs supply chain plans unredacted. We must know what SSE promised to get this contract for difference. Mr MacNeil has previously written to BEIS and tabled questions highlighting the need for Scottish yards to benefit from orders for developments in Scottish waters.

Angus MacNeil said

“It seems that when companies are looking for CfD contracts they put in a procurement plan to the UK Government, who are in charge of the process, to show how they will be bringing some spend to the area or to parts of the UK. It seems in this case that the Seagreen/SSE procurement plan, I have been told in the background, may well have been a work of fiction.

“In the first instance the UK Government should make this public- the UK gov must release all of SSEs supply chain plans unredacted. We must know what SSE promised to get this contract for difference.  

“Secondly they should be insisting that these jobs are in places like Arnish in Lewis and Methil in Fife and not off to the shoddy work practices of the UAE and the cheap labour of China who will be reliant on the UK Government subsidies while our yards are empty.

“I welcome the formation of Action for Arnish and assure them that just as I have in the past, I will continue to work with all who have the best interests of the yard and the workforce at heart.

“The UK Government cannot walk by on the other side and wash its hands. It is central to what is going on here and if it’s not going to play its role as referee then the likes of Seagreen /SSE will take the opportunity to be cowboys, unfortunately. This is not a time for them to be cowboys and is not a time for UK Government to play Pontius Pilate.

 “This contract must be looked at again or else the CfD’s removed from Seagreen by the UK Government.”  

Angus MacNeil said

“It seems that when companies are looking for CfD contracts they put in a procurement plan to the UK Government, who are in charge of the process, to show how they will be bringing some spend to the area or to parts of the UK. It seems in this case that the Seagreen/SSE procurement plan, I have been told in the background, may well have been a work of fiction.

“In the first instance the UK Government should make this public- the UK gov must release all of SSEs supply chain plans unredacted. We must know what SSE promised to get this contract for difference.  

“Secondly they should be insisting that these jobs are in places like Arnish in Lewis and Methil in Fife and not off to the shoddy work practices of the UAE and the cheap labour of China who will be reliant on the UK Government subsidies while our yards are empty.

“I welcome the formation of Action for Arnish and assure them that just as I have in the past, I will continue to work with all who have the best interests of the yard and the workforce at heart.

“The UK Government cannot walk by on the other side and wash its hands. It is central to what is going on here and if it’s not going to play its role as referee then the likes of Seagreen /SSE will take the opportunity to be cowboys, unfortunately. This is not a time for them to be cowboys and is not a time for UK Government to play Pontius Pilate.

 “This contract must be looked at again or else the CfD’s removed from Seagreen by the UK Government.”