Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan earlier today questioned the Scottish Government on the use of the Arnish fabrication yard in the Isle of Lewis.

The islands MSP asked Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, whether Arnish could be utilised by other companies other than BiFab who could bring work the yard.

BiFab, who own the Arnish fabrication yard, have been put into difficulty in recent months after missing out on a contract to manufacture jackets for the Seagreen offshore wind farm in September, and having an existing bid to manufacture jackets for the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm project thrown into doubt.

Speaking after a Ministerial Statement on BiFab, Alasdair Allan MSP commented:

“One of the key asks for the Action for Arnish campaign is that the yard be available to any company that can bring work into it. We need to keep an open mind about what the future holds for Arnish, and the widest possible range of uses there could be for the yard. It is right that the Scottish Government is open to exploring all options on this.

“While the Scottish Government has hit a legal threshold in terms of how much more it can invest as minority shareholder in the company, I am frustrated at the lack of investment from JV Driver – the majority shareholder.

“Arnish deserves a future, and if work cannot be brought in under BiFab then, as I asked the Scottish Government earlier today, we need other companies to be able to use it.”