Meeting of the Parliament 26 November 2025
It is getting a bit tiresome explaining the Scotland Act 1998, the Electricity Act 1989 and all the reserved functions of the UK Government to the Conservative energy spokesperson, who I would have thought would be familiar with the detail of those.
Meanwhile, we will continue the oil and gas transition training fund to support the industry-led energy skills passport and provide enhanced training opportunities for oil and gas workers via our colleges. We have already invested more than £120 million in the north-east through our just transition fund and energy transition fund to support the region’s transition to net zero. That funding has helped to create new jobs, support innovation and secure a highly skilled workforce for the future. We are on the side of energy workers.
I turn to the omissions from the chancellor’s statement this afternoon, which I referenced earlier. That means turning to the fiscal regime in the North Sea, which is—again—reserved to the UK Government. I am deeply disappointed by the UK Government’s budget announcements a few hours ago, but, more than that, I am deeply worried. Do not just take my word on that; I have the response from David Whitehouse, the chief executive of Offshore Energies UK, who said:
“Today, the government turned down £50 billion of investment for the UK and the chance to protect the jobs and industries that keep this country running. Instead, they’ve chosen a path that will see 1,000 jobs continue to be lost every month, more energy imports and a contagion across supply chains”.
I totally agree with him.
On the other side of things, I want to explain how the situation is affecting communities, because the levy is not just a tax on companies.