First Minister Alex Salmond has launched a £50m fund to invest in green transport technology. The Future Transport Fund is part of the Scottish Futures Fund, and will invest in projects which improve connectivity whilst reducing CO2 emissions.
Mr Salmond launched the fund on a visit to the University of Dundee Centre for Renewable Energy. DUCRE is engaged in a range of diverse renewable energy and environmental research including electrical vehicles.
Commenting on the launch of the fund, Mr Salmond said:
"In our first term, the SNP Government led the world with the most ambitious climate change targets ever introduced – legislating to reduce harmful emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 with our Climate Change Act. A re-elected SNP Government is committed to investing in the technology to make this ambition a reality.
"Transport is a major source of CO2 gases and accounts for a quarter of Scotland's total emissions. Through the Scottish Futures Fund, the SNP will invest £50m in improving connectivity and innovation in transport.
"The fund will deliver economic as well as environmental benefits by encouraging Scottish firms specializing in low carbon transport technologies.
"The low carbon economy offers us a huge chance to reindustrialise Scotland with the development of innovative projects from our universities to our industries. Low carbon transport firms like Axeon here in Dundee are part of that opportunity for the future."
Mr Salmond also commented on the Foreign Office statement that former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa has left the UK for Qatar, saying:
"Mr Moussa Koussa was interviewed by Scottish police last Thursday as a potential witness in the Lockerbie investigation. He has not been under Scottish jurisdiction, and therefore the Crown Office has no power over his movements.
"However, we have every reason to believe that the Scottish authorities will be able to interview him again if required."
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Also, as Labour leader Iain Gray attacked First Minister Alex Salmond in the Times yesterday, SNP Business Convener Bruce Crawford said: "Iain Gray's remarks are laughable - if he can't even speak to Glaswegians protesting against Tory cuts, he is clearly incapable of standing up to the Tories. "Labour's record of standing up for Scotland is pitiful. The SNP led the protest against the Tory Budget's smash and grab raid on Scotland's North Sea revenues - and when it came to the vote in the House of Commons, Labour MPs betrayed Scotland and sat on their hands. "And Iain Gray's examples are ludicrous – the last Labour Government failed to hand over Scotland's near £200 million Fossil Fuel Levy, while the SNP have consistently pressed the issue and led the debate to build a Holyrood majority demanding Scotland's money. "And if it had been left to Labour's Andy Kerr, Scotland would have lost the £1.5 billion that he left tied up in the UK Treasury's End Year Flexibility. "The SNP Government agreed a Joint Declaration with the Welsh and Northern Irish administrations protesting against the UK Government's unilateral decision to write off EYF stocks. And thanks to John Swinney's financial acumen, we got Scotland's money out before the Treasury closed the bank, leaving only £23 million – far less than the £150 million each that the Welsh and Northern Irish lost. "John Swinney is the most effective Finance Minister that Scotland has had – all that Iain Gray has demonstrated is that he has no knowledge or understanding of these issues." Meanwhile, Stuart McMillan, the SNP's candidate for Greenock and Inverclyde, welcomed the decision of three Court of Session judges to reject an appeal by the insurance industry to overturn a law brought in by the SNP Government which gives victims of an asbestos-related illness the right to claim damages. Welcoming yesterday's decision Mr McMillan said: "The SNP Government and Kenny MacAskill acted swiftly to address the injustice faced by pleural plaque sufferers. The decision of the House of Lords was outrageous and I am pleased that action was taken by the Justice Secretary to ensure that the ruling has no affect in Scotland. "Those who are suffering from work related illnesses, particularly those caused by asbestos, should have the right to seek compensation and it is quite right they can still do so in Scotland."Related posts: