Ministers are considering “pickpocketing” the public body in charge of managing Scotland’s land for a cash boost expected from offshore windfarms. In the ScotWind auction for seabed rights for the green projects, 17 bidders paid almost £700 million in rental. Crown Estate Scotland, which manages the country’s seabed, coastline, rural estates and more, brokered the deals. It was expected that it would receive up to 9 per cent of the revenue profits returned — about £60 million of the total sales revenue — but there are doubts over whether that will be followed through. Edward Mountain, the Scottish Conservative MSP, asked the Scottish government specifically to confirm the funding. Michael Matheson, the energy secretary, replied: “Scottish ministers are considering how the ScotWind revenues should be invested to maximise the benefits for the people of Scotland.”
Times 23rd June 2022 read more »