A Scottish minister has admitted a figure used by the Scottish Government about Scotland’s wind energy potential was not accurate.

Lorna Slater, the junior climate change minister, said ministers using the statistic believed it was “accurate at the time”.

She added the government had only been made aware the figure was false earlier this month.

It came to light after campaign group These Islands published information refuting the statement that Scotland has a quarter of Europe’s potential offshore wind resource.

The group said while Scotland did have “substantial” resources, the government was “hugely exaggerating” its potential and a “realistic figure” would be between four and six per cent.

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