Meeting of the Parliament 20 January 2016
I welcome the opportunity presented to us by the Green and Independent group for a debate on North Sea oil and gas. It is, indeed, a well-timed debate: it was only on Monday that the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee produced its report “Future prospects for oil and gas in Scotland”.
Patrick Harvie sits on the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee. To be fair to him, I should highlight that he dissented from four of the recommendations in the committee’s report. I noticed that he was in the press yesterday describing the report as “reckless”. That is rather unfortunate language to use about a report that was supported by all other members and parties on the committee—a report that is, in my view, measured and balanced and which has been warmly welcomed by those in the sector and those whose jobs depend on it.
The timeliness of the debate is probably the kindest thing that I can say about Mr Harvie’s motion, for it is a remarkably downbeat, depressing view of a sector that is still of great importance to the Scottish economy.
The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee’s overwhelming view was that, with the appropriate support from Governments and enhanced collaboration, a sustainable industry can emerge from the downturn.
Of course, it is not so long since we heard the Green Party banging on about peak oil. Our memories in this chamber do not need to be too long to remember Mr Harvie and his colleagues telling us that oil production was at record high levels, that the oil was going to run out soon, that oil prices were on an endlessly upwards trajectory and that oil would become an increasingly unaffordable commodity. Today, as we look at an oil price of just $28 a barrel, those predictions have as much validity as the prediction that the finances of an independent Scotland would be based on an oil price of a $110 a barrel or more.
Having got that spectacularly wrong, the Green Party has now changed its tune. It is now saying that the decline in oil price means that there must be a transition away from fossil fuels towards a new economy.