Osborne £100m English taxes funding for Scotland

Osborne £100m English taxes funding for Scotland

British Chancellor George Osborne has announced an extra £100m of English taxes in funding for renewable energy in Scotland.

He said the money was additional to the existing budget and spending of the Scottish government.

Accompanied by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, Mr Osborne made the announcement at a former oil rig construction yard in Easter Ross.

Last month, it was revealed the site was to become a service hub for the energy industry.

Inverness and Aberdeen-based Global Energy Group purchased Nigg from KBR and the Wakelyn Trust for an undisclosed fee.

The company intends to develop the 238-acre (96.14 hectares) to meet contracts from the oil, gas and marine energy markets.

The firm expects to employ 2,000 people by 2015.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond travelled to Nigg to make last month's announcement.

He also confirmed funding of £1.8m from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) - to help transform the site into what Scottish government sources call a "multi-use modern energy park".

Nigg is expected to compete for work with Ifab, a new yard in nearby Invergordon opened by Aberdeen and Invergordon-based Port Services Group

Set England free sign the e-petition "English First Minister" has now been published. You can view your e-petition at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22178