Deputy First Minister John Swinney has urged UK Energy Secretary, Greg Clark, to take action over major funding decisions for renewables project on the Scottish Islands.

Scottish Ministers have claimed at least £1.3 billion of investment is at risk of being lost due to the the UK Government's indecision on supporting large-scale renewable energy projects on the Islands.

Ministers met council leaders from Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, at the Convention for Highlands and Islands (COHI) in Inverness today, 31 October. In addition, Ministers and Scottish Island Council Leaders have now written to Secretary Clark expressing concerns on the issue.

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An independent report commissioned by the Scottish Government estimates island communities could benefit from up to £725 million over the next 25 years from renewables projects. However, the Scottish Government said delays on announcing which technologies will be supported in the next round of auctions to support the sector are "putting existing investments at risk".

Mr Swinney added the UK can "ill afford" to miss out on £1.3 billion of investments offered by the "shovel ready" anchor projects on the Western Isles and Shetland, as well as the benefit's for the UK-wide supply chain, in the wake of the EU referendum.

"We urge that this period of uncertainty is brought to a swift conclusion and that the strong economic case for Remote Island Wind, developed in partnership between the UK Government and the wider Scottish Islands Delivery Forum membership, is duly acknowledged in a decision that allows island projects to compete in the next allocation round," he said.

"We would urge the new Secretary of State to take immediate action to ensure that the UK Government re-engages with this process and delivers on the commitments to harness the renewables potential of the islands."

(LM/CD)