Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01349, in the name of Fergus Ewing, on the oil and gas framework.14:58

The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism (Fergus Ewing) SNP

Thank you for accommodating this important debate, Presiding Officer. I welcome the opportunity to acknowledge the success of Scotland’s oil and gas sector, ...

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

Will the minister give way?

Fergus Ewing SNP

Certainly.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Liam—

Tavish Scott LD

I am Tavish Scott, not Liam McArthur.Does the minister recognise that one of the major economic opportunities over the next 15 to 20 years will be in decommi...

Fergus Ewing SNP

I welcome Tavish Scott’s point; he is absolutely right that decommissioning will present considerable opportunities for Scotland. Just yesterday we received ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

I am sure that we should be reassured, minister. Perhaps you would like to move on.

Fergus Ewing SNP

Thank you, Presiding Officer.Access to finance is as much an issue in the oil and gas industry as it is in other industries, and oil companies are finding it...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

I am grateful to the minister for giving way because he is “that sort of minister”.My point is on fallow fields, which—as the minister will be aware—are fiel...

Fergus Ewing SNP

That is one of a number of factors that concern all members across all parties. I cannot speak for Chris Huhne, but I think that the UK Government is apprise...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

You can have a little more time, if you wish.

Fergus Ewing SNP

That is very generous of you, Presiding Officer. You are that sort of Presiding Officer.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

That depends on the day.

Fergus Ewing SNP

Thank you, Presiding Officer. Technological excellence, robust supply chains, a skilled workforce and making best use of the existing onshore and offshore oi...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

My pleasure. Could you please move the motion?

Fergus Ewing SNP

I move,That the Parliament recognises the continued importance of Scotland’s oil and gas sector to the Scottish and UK economies, its support for 196,000 job...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

Thank you. I call Lewis Macdonald, who has a generous nine minutes.15:12

Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

North Sea oil and gas have now been with us for a working lifetime. Other members, like me, will know people who have retired from the industry, having joine...

Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

I thank the member for recognising the future of the oil and gas industry. Is it not regrettable that in the second session of this Parliament his ministers—...

Lewis Macdonald SNP

To be frank, what I regret is that after the minister’s constructive opening—and invitation for us to have a consensual and constructive debate—Maureen Watt ...

Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Con) Con

We have had an excellent start to the debate. The minister’s speech was ministerial and helpful as opposed to partisan, and Lewis Macdonald’s speech was well...

Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I note that the member’s amendment would delete all reference to the PWC report. What aspect of that report does he disagree with so fundamentally that he se...

Gavin Brown Con

In the main, it is an excellent report, about 95 per cent of which I could probably sign up to immediately. There were a couple of issues to do with proposed...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

We move to the open debate. I can allow speeches of up to seven minutes.15:29

Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

In June, I had a members’ business debate on oil and gas taxation. It was a constructive debate, which was handled constructively by all parties across the c...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I apologise that I will have to leave for a brief period for a prior commitment with a constituent, although I will be back for the closing speeches.I join c...

Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

I welcome this debate, because oil and gas is a subject that is very close to my heart; I worked in the industry and went offshore as part of my job for some...

Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

A number of weeks ago, Oil & Gas UK and the French company Total organised a parliamentary visit to the Elgin-Franklin field, which is east of Aberdeen. In o...

Mark McDonald SNP

Will the member take an intervention?