Jamie Stone calls for debate on UK offshore wind manufacturing

Local MP Jamie Stone is urging the UK government to play its part in developing a domestic offshore wind turbine manufacturing industry.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross believes that turbines should be built in this country rather than abroad.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he called for a debate on the issue.

Mr Stone previously worked at oil platform fabrication yards in the Highlands and has spoken before about the employment these sites generated.

"Some of the mightiest structures in the North Sea were fabricated in the yards of the north of Scotland," he said. "I myself worked in two of them, Kishorn and Nigg.

"Offshore wind energy is going to be a vital part of the UK’s energy mix in the future, and we don’t want these structures built abroad. We want them built in the UK.

"Would it not be a good idea to have a debate about the future of offshore wind here in this chamber and a close look at where we can build them within the United Kingdom?"

The Leader of the House of Commons, Mark Spencer, replied: "I think it is important we do have a balanced network supply, including offshore wind, which I think will be a vital way forward. There are huge amounts of opportunities, as he indicates, for employment from not only renewables but other sources of energy.

"That is something the government will continue to push forward."

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