More government funding has been provided for the site of the Mossmorran ethylene plant which closed last month.

The UK Government has pledged up to £9 million following a similar sum provided by the Scottish Government in January.

However, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said funding depends on suitable investment proposals being brought forward and approved, and appropriate commercial partners being identified.

The announcement by the UK government was made as the Fife Council-led taskforce met today, bringing together local elected representatives, employers, Fife Council and the Scottish Government.

Deputy First minister Kate Forbes announced Holyrood’s support ahead of ExxonMobil shutting the 40-year-old Fife facility.

Mr Alexander said: “The UK Government stands ready to invest up to £9 million in Mossmorran’s future. We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for the plant’s workers and their families.

“We are determined to do all we can to look after the plant’s workers, ensure a successful future for the site itself, and so mitigate the impact on the wider Fife community.”

Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said: “I am pleased the UK Government has finally answered my calls for initial match funding to support a just transition at Mossmorran, building on funds committed by the Scottish Government earlier this year.

“I want to see these investments delivering high quality, fair and unionised jobs on the site, with clear conditionality for any incoming investor to provide guaranteed job interviews for folks laid off by ExxonMobil.

“It is four months on from when ExxonMobil first announced they were abandoning the site. It’s down to both the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure that this support is not too little, too late.

“Funding from the Scottish Government and UK Government must also place surrounding communities at the centre of decision making for the future use of the site. 

“For decades they made sacrifices hosting Mossmorran, they must be at the heart of an ambitious masterplan going forward.”