Bill Wilson MSP

Dr Bill Wilson MSP (West of Scotland, SNP) is reminding the people of Renfrewshire to take advantage of the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants before it’s too late.

He said, “Renewables grants are used to help with the installation of green heating technologies like wood fuel boilers, heat pumps and solar thermal water heating. Due to the scheme’s remarkable success, the initial pot of money is running low. Since 2007, 2,900 people have been able to cut their heating bills with the help of grants totalling 7.4 million pounds. It’s estimated that there are only three weeks left until all the money is allocated, but applications will be accepted until then.

“The scheme has boosted the Scottish economy, with an estimated 21 million pounds being invested as a result of it – almost three times the Scottish Government contribution. It’s further evidence of the Government’s strategic commitment to green energy and green jobs.

“With an estimated 25% of Europe’s tidal resources and the Scottish Government’s Saltire Prize, Scotland is set to lead the world in tidal and wave power. Let’s see what householders can do to consolidate Scotland’s position as a leader in the renewable energy field. I urge the people of Renfrewshire to find out about how home renewables grants could benefit both themselves and the environment.”

With the grant money close to being fully allocated, Energy Minister Jim Mather has said that the Scottish Government will continue to look for ways to support small-scale renewables.

Dr Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland, has hit out at the “astonishing hypocrisy” of former Scotland Office Minister Ann McKechin, Labour MP for Glasgow North, who has been asking questions of the very department she used to be part of.  Her questions centre on when Scotland will receive payments from the fossil fuel levy fund, a pot of money accumulated from a charge paid by suppliers of electricity from non-renewable energy sources in the United Kingdom.

Dr Wilson said, “After two years as a Junior Minister in the Scottish Office, McKechin had the gall to ask the new Secretary of State for Scotland when he planned to release fossil fuel levy funds to Scotland – something her party did not do in thirteen years.  After all those years in government, it took until the month before the election to get any sort of clear indication from Alistair Darling as to when any such funds would be released.

One hundred and fifty local primary school children recently took to the countryside in an effort to gain a better understanding of the links between food and farming. The children visited Finlaystone Country Estate, Langbank in an event organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust and sponsored by the Scottish Government. It was attended by local MSP and member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, Dr Bill Wilson.

Dr Bill Wilson MSP (SNP, West of Scotland) has highlighted the announcement of a major Scottish Government investment in sustainable transport initiatives.