3rd September 2010
CRUNCH TALKS FOR GREEN JOBS

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan is to join with other local agencies for crunch talks to ensure Inverclyde doesn’t lose out on its share of thousands of green jobs.
The MSP has been battling to get Inchgreen on a list of approved ports that will receive Scottish Government investment to serve the growing renewables industry.
Last month, the First Minister announced that the offshore renewable industry could bring 20,000 jobs to Scotland.
The Scottish Government is to spend more than £220 million on 11 ports across Scotland to manufacture and maintain the offshore windfarms, some of which will be based off the west coast of Scotland.
But despite a strong bid from the Inverclyde Renewables Alliance, Inchgreen docks was omitted from the investment plan and Inverclyde now faces losing out on those jobs to other ports.
Mr McNeil will join with Riverside Inverclyde, Inverclyde Council and Clydeport to hold crunch talks with Scottish Enterprise about the lost opportunity.
Trish Godman MSP, David Cairns MP and other MSPs have been invited.
Mr McNeil said: “Given the facilities, skills and workforce we have in Inverclyde, it is important that we do not miss this opportunity to bring green jobs to the area.
“I welcome the joined-up approach, which is both cross-party and cross-agency, to ensure that the potential here in Inverclyde is recognised.
“I have discussed the Inverclyde bid with a number of industry experts and they all agree that we are well placed to benefit from this growing industry.
“But the Scottish Government has prioritised other areas of Scotland for investment and I fear this will put us at a competitive disadvantage.”