A deal has been agreed between the UK and Scottish governments to establish two green freeports in Scotland.
Freeports are zones with a special economic status, offering tax breaks and lower business tariffs.
Commenting on the deal, Scotland’s finance secretary, Kate Forbes, said: “We have been able to reach an agreement on a joint approach that enshrines the Scottish government's commitment to achieving net zero and embedding fair work practices through public investment.
“The establishment of green freeports will help us create new green jobs, deliver a just transition and support our economic transformation.”
Freeports are being pushed by the Conservative government as beneficial for the levelling up agenda, but Scotland’s Green party, the SNP’s partners in government, say that the plans are a “corporate giveaway” and constitute “greenwashing” rather than helping the environment.
Scottish Green and finance spokesman, Ross Greer, told the BBC: “There is nothing genuinely green about them. Freeports are a really effective way to give tax relief and throw public money at multinational companies who are already doing their best to avoid tax.
“The SNP used to oppose freeports for exactly the same reason the Scottish Greens still do. Internationally, freeports are associated with crime, money laundering, smuggling, low wages.”
The bidding process for the green freeports will begin in spring 2022 ahead of the official site openings in 2023. Ministers within both the UK and Scottish governments will have input in the selection process.
£52 million of funding toward the green freeport project has been pledged by the UK government, and bidders for the sites will be required to commit to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2045.
The freeports will also be supported by the Scottish government and UK Treasury who will exercise rates relief and other tax powers to stimulate their development.
The Scottish government said back in July 2021 that potential sites being considered for the green freeports included zones in Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeen and Peterhead jointly, Montrose, Dundee, Cairnryan, the Firth of Forth and the Glasgow city region.
Speaking during a visit to Scotland this week, prime minister Boris Johnson said: “I am delighted that people across Scotland will reap the benefits that will come from having two new green freeports.
“Freeports will help to accelerate our plan to level up communities across the whole of the United Kingdom. They have the power to be truly transformational by creating jobs and investment opportunities to enable people to reach their potential.”
Johnson has been criticised for travelling to Scotland by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who said that his mission “made the case for the Union harder”.
Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader in Westminster, labelled Johnson’s visit “a walking advert for Scottish independence” and once more called on the PM to resign.
Johnson said that he was “working very hard” on “uniting and levelling up” with “colleagues in Scotland” as part of his trip north of the border.
Photo by Andy Li on Unsplash
