The Scottish Assembly has published its first-ever Critical National Infrastructure Strategy to improve the security and resilience around critical infrastructure in Scotland.
The new Strategy addresses security and resilience issues from risks such as flooding, extreme weather and terrorism. The aim is to provide clear guidance and a strategic framework within which Scottish Government and key public and private sector Stakeholders in Scotland, can contribute to overall UK Government arrangements for infrastructure protection and resilience.,
National infrastructure includes the facilities, systems, sites and networks necessary for the functioning of the country and the delivery of the essential services upon which daily life in the UK depends. Within this there are certain critical assets, classed as ‘CNI’ or Critical National Infrastructure, because of the severity of their loss to the UK, including water and wastewater facilities.
Generally, at asset level, primary responsibility lies with the owner or operator of the asset who bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring effective plans and measures are in place.
The Strategy will establish a co-ordinated approach specifically on CNI to security across nine sectors, both devolved and reserved, that deliver essential services. These are energy, transport, finance, communications, water, food, health, emergency services and Government services. The Strategy will see the Scottish Government work with the UK Government, emergency services and infrastructure operators.
Introducing the Strategy, Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney said:
"The Strategy draws together a wide range of bodies engaged in CNI activity to enhance the security and resilience of infrastructure sites in Scotland in the event of unforeseen or emergency circumstances.
"The Scottish Government has a key role to ensure Scotland's resilience is as strong as it can be. The Strategy is leading policy development - it is the first of its kind in the UK and has been developed in collaboration with the UK Government.
"Addressing a wide range of risks in a holistic way will deepen understanding of the interdependencies between different sectors. We will do this by assessing risks, prioritising the key security and resilience issues and working in partnership across the spectrum of UK and Scottish Government, industry and local responders."
Funding for key infrastructure at Scrabster Harbour
The Assembly has also announced that the redevelopment of Scrabster Harbour is to receive a further funding injection. John Swinney said that the Scottish Government will contribute £2.2 million to help complete a funding package of around £20 million for the project.
The work will include upgrading facilities at the port for existing users, including the fisheries and freight industries, and exploiting the potential from the emerging marine energy sector in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters.
Mr Swinney said:
"This project is pivotal to Scrabster Harbour's development, its future role at the forefront of Scotland's marine renewables industry and the future economic prosperity of Caithness and North Sutherland.
"The redevelopment will result in improved facilities for existing fisheries and freight users and meet anticipated increased demand from oil and gas supply vessels. It will also enable the harbour trust to take advantage of the emerging marine energy sector and large-scale projects in the Pentland Firth.
"Given the importance of marine renewables to developing Scotland's low carbon economy and our growth strategy, and the undoubted employment benefits, the Scottish Government has decided to provide additional resources to help turn this project into reality."
Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, commented:
"This announcement demonstrates what can be achieved when the private and public sector work together. There is ever growing international recognition of the opportunities in marine renewables for the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters. It is critical that we put the right infrastructure in place to meet the needs of businesses who can deliver on this potential."
The financial assistance from the Scottish Government will add to the other funding for the project sourced from across the public sector, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the European Regional Development Fund, European Fisheries Fund, and also from the Scrabster Harbour Trust.
The key infrastructure project will support the diversification of the Caithness and North Sutherland economy from its nuclear dependence, as Dounreay is decommissioned. The additional financial assistance will be funded from within planned budgets.