MSP Alex Rowley has told the Scottish Parliament that Fife is losing out on jobs as more and more work moves overseas.

Speaking in a debate on the fiscal implications of COVID-19, Mr Rowley said: “The Government’s record of investing and supporting companies in, for example, offshore wind has not resulted in jobs for Scotland.

"Indeed, in that example, it seems that it has resulted in jobs for every country but Scotland. It is a disgrace that we have yards in Methil, Burntisland and Stornoway lying empty when the work to build the wind farms around our coast is going everywhere but Scotland".

Commenting after, Mr Rowley said: “Huge subsidies from UK taxpayers, expensive energy bills, and now more work going abroad for Scottish offshore renewables projects – we are being taken for a ride.

“We have continually been told by the Government about the potential for thousands of jobs and massive economic investment through new green industries, but the Scottish Government is not delivering the job opportunities here, and as a result Fifers are losing out.

“The Government needs to come forward with a proper industrial strategy and a proper renewables strategy, especially at this time of economic crisis we are facing".

He added: “It isn’t right that we have yards in Fife lying empty, with local people looking for work, when we know we have the capability to do the work here. I raised this directly with the Scottish Government telling them the way out of the crisis is through major investment in growth by taxing more those who can afford to pay more and by unprecedented job creation schemes.

“It is time to deliver a fairer economy that works for Scottish people, putting their interests ahead of corporations and their pursuit of profits alone. Scotland has an opportunity to be at the forefront of a new green industrial revolution, but it needs government support in order to see that realised.”

The Scottish Government has consistently maintained that it was making efforts to “support the local supply chain to improve its competitiveness in winning work” for the construction phase of offshore wind projects to “maximise the economic impact”of operations and maintenance activities over the lifetime of the projects.