The UK Government could move to bypass Scottish ministers and devolve lucrative new seabed powers directly to north and north-east communities.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael told the Press and Journal last night that the plan would give “maximum empowerment” to rural areas.
The cross-party Smith Commission has recommended transferring control of the Crown Estate in Scotland to Holyrood as part of a package of measures to extend the devolution settlement.
The £10billion Crown Estate represents more than half of Britain’s foreshore and a massive property portfolio on behalf of the Queen, but has been accused of behaving like an “absentee landlord” and “tax collector” in Scotland.
Profits from the assets, which can come from offshore renewable energy schemes, fish farms, harbours and moorings, currently flow to the Treasury, with £267million generated across the UK last year.
Mr Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, suggested yesterday that devolution of the powers could be made directly to local authorities and other bodies, rather than via Edinburgh.
Lib Dems have regularly accused the SNP of attempting to centralise power in the Scottish capital, and appear keen to explore ways to ensure that does not happen with the Crown Estate.
Mr Carmichael said: “We could of course go for maximum empowerment of Scotland’s communities by devolving powers to them directly, rather than via another capital city.
“I think that suggestion would be well received in Scotland’s coastal and rural communities.
“If the Scottish Government is willing to consider this, then it is something that we could discuss in a constructive manner.
“I will be contacting both the Scottish Government and local communities in the New Year to see whether this is something on which there could be agreement.”
However, Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead insisted last night that the Scottish Parliament must oversee the transfer of the responsibilities.
“Scottish Ministers are happy to meet Mr Carmichael to discuss how devolution of the Crown Estate can be progressed quickly and the Scottish Government has already raised this with the UK Government,” the SNP MSP for Moray said.
“The Smith Commission recommendations make clear that responsibility for management of the Crown Estate’s economic assets in Scotland should be transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
“The new framework for management of Crown Estate assets should be made in Scotland by the Scottish Parliament and coastal and rural communities will be involved – and the Scottish Government have already made clear we want to see local communities get the maximum benefit possible.”