Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has echoed Cabinet Secretary Lochhead's call for the UK Government to continue to fund Salvage Tugs or Emergency Towing Vessels. This follows the grounding of a large cargo ship, Lysblink Seaways, at Ardnamurchan Point in the past two days in the middle of one of the most beautiful and fragile environments in Scotland.

Mr Thompson said, "Here is a classic case of a vessel grounded and leaking oil in an area of outstanding natural beauty and an area important for marine ecology and economy.

"We have a valuable tourist industry and shell and fish farms at risk as well as the wider marine environment all of which is worth billions of pounds to the Scottish and UK economies.

"It couldn't be clearer that there is a role for Government in protecting the coastal communities and their economies and yet the UK Government want to save a few million pounds by withdrawing this necessary protection.

"I call on them to see sense and I welcome the Cabinet Secretary's action writing  to seek early discussions on the withdrawal of funding and his call to the UK Government to extend funding for Emergency Towing Vessels beyond March 2016."