FURY AT £3.6m amazon GRANT
Government criticised over dealings with firm
CONTROVERSIAL online retailers Amazon have been given £3.6million of taxpayers’ money by the Scottish Government in the last 10 years, it has been revealed.
The company, who have a massive Scottish base in Dunfermline, were given £2.4million through a regional selective assistance grant and £1.2million in other payments since 2007.
The revelations sparked a political row last night as the SNP defended payments made to a firm who have provoked concerns over their working practices. Labour economy spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “The SNP Government should be doing everything they can to ensure more Scots get a pay rise.
“Instead, ministers have channelled millions of pounds of taxpayer cash to a company with a horrendous record on workers’ rights.
“The SNP government must review the support they are giving Amazon.”
But the SNP accused Labour of hypocrisy as they also spent grants on Amazon before the SNP came to power at Holyrood in 2007. A spokesman for Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “This is jaw-dropping hypocrisy from Jackie Baillie, who fails to mention the millions of pounds of public cash which Labour paid to Amazon when they were in office in Scotland.
“Amazon are not in receipt of any Scottish Government grants at present, but we will support jobs and investment in Scotland, which is more vital than ever given Brexit.”
Pictures emerged last December showing tents near Amazon’s Dunfermline warehouse which employees were said to be living in. The company have also faced calls to pay the “living wage”, currently £8.45 an hour.
Amazon insist they do pay over the UK Government’s official rate of £7.50. A spokesman said: “We are proud to be contributors to the economy in Scotland, including investing hundreds of millions of pounds in operations over the past five years and providing 2500 permanent paid jobs.”