Weekly Intelligence Brief

MP John Thurso probes further, raises concerns over delay

16 December 2009

Member of Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross, John Thurso, has questioned whether the government is seriously committed to offshore renewable energy.

Thurso, who has also been critical of delays by the Crown Estate, reportedly described as “incredible” the fact that exchequer secretary Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP has had no discussions with the Crown Estate on the issue, neither has she had talks with ministers at the Department for Energy or the Secretary of State for Scotland.

According to a report filed by The Press and Journal, the Crown Estate commissioners “are being hauled before the Commons Treasury committee after protests over delays establishing a tidal power industry in the Pentland Firth”.

The report also mentioned that Sara McCarthy-Fry admitted in answer to questions from Thurso that the commissioners were allowed to operate “at arm’s length” without government direction so long as they meet their target of delivering an agreed return to the taxpayer. She said neither she nor – as far as she knew – any of her officials had any talks with the commissioners or with the Department of Energy and Climate Change or the Scotland Office about their crucial role in ensuring the target is hit of securing 33 GW, or half as much again as the nation’s existing power supply.

Those companies who have been successful in their bids for seabed leases in the Pentland Firth will be announced at the end of March.

In late October, the Crown Estate confirmed that the timetable for the installation of wave and tidal devices in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Islands area by 2020 remains on schedule. It admitted that this date (March) will ensure that leases for wave and tidal projects are appropriate, that as many bidders as possible can obtain lease options, and that "we comply with obligations under European law".

Read more:

The Crown Estate: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/The+Crown+Estate

John Thurso: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/John+Thurso

Pentland Firth: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/Pentland+Firth