The Scottish Government has renewed its called that an investment should be made in restoring the country's opencast coal sites.

It comes after Energy Minister Fergus Ewing accused the UK Government of showing "disrespect to the people of Scotland" by failing to answer their request for £15m of coal levies to be returned. The money, which has been raised from coal produced in Scotland, would be reinvested in restoring opencast sites.

In a statement released today (16 December), Minister Ewing said: "I have written on numerous occasions to my counterparts in the UK Government, on this issue since September 2013 and I have yet to receive a substantive reply.

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"Even in the Autumn Statement there were no provisions for coal communities. The UK Government's lack of engagement in this manner is a disrespect to the people of Scotland.

"These monies could go some way to assist in reducing the financial burden that our local authorities are feeling across Scotland due to the huge costs of restoration.

"The money collected by the UK Government over the years from coal mined in Scotland, now in the region of £15 million, should be put to good use to help with the restoration of opencast sites.

"We have a significant restoration legacy to deal with in Scotland and that money – paid into the central funds in London – has not been used for the industry or affected communities. It is now needed to help restore these sites."

(JP/MH)