The body charged with boosting the Highland economy has invested millions of pounds in companies linked to the “sale of arms”.
New figures reveal Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has given more than £3.4million of taxpayers’ cash to firms supplying the defence industry.
The statistics emerged after Fergus Ewing faced criticism for privately praising US firm Raytheon during a visit to its factory in Fife, despite allegations its ordnance had been used by Saudi Arabian forces waging a controversial bombing campaign in Yemen – a war the SNP has condemned.
Last year, HIE gave firms involved in “development, manufacture or marketing for the arms trade” more than £680,000, according to Scottish Government figures.
In 2014-15, it handed over more than £1.1million.
Scotland’s national body tasked with boosting economic growth – Scottish Enterprise – handed over more than £15million in the last decade.
Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie said it was shocking “public funds are being used to encourage such an abhorrent trade”.
A spokesman for HIE denied the body provided assistance “directly to the arms trade”, and said the companies it supported often manufactured products with both a military and civilian usage.
The Scottish Conservatives accused Mr Finnie of “rabble-rousing about tenuous links”.
But Mr Finnie said: “It is rank hypocrisy for SNP MPs to, as they have, condemn the sale of arms from the UK while at the same time the SNP government is handing out millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money to support that very industry.
“The scale of funding will shock many people, and I think the public will rightly be angry that public funds are being used to encourage such an abhorrent trade.”
The Scottish Greens MSP had earlier asked Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Keith Brown “what public funds that it has responsibility for have supported development, manufacture or marketing in the arms trade in each of the last 10 years”, leading to the figures being published.
A spokesman said Mr Finnie’s comments “misrepresent” the government’s view.
He added: “We have raised repeated concerns over the misuse of weapons and support calls for the UK Government to investigate reports that British-made weapons have been used unlawfully against civilians in Yemen.
“The funding Scottish Enterprise has provided has supported companies in diversifying and in developing non-military applications for technology, as well as to secure employment opportunities in Scotland.”
A spokesman for HIE added: “We do not provide assistance directly to the arms trade.
“Our support in this context relates to activities by companies in related industries who may also target military contracts.
“These are mostly electronics and engineering firms primarily engaged in research and development or supply of components or products, some of which may be applicable for defence-related use.
“Some of their clients therefore may include defence sector firms as well as oil and gas, nuclear or aerospace.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “People would rather politicians got behind organisations like Scottish Enterprise to boost growth and jobs, rather than rabble-rouse about tenuous links.
“It’s typical of the Greens to aimlessly throw stones, rather than finding ways to grow our own economy.”
