Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 November 2011
17 Nov 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Oil and Gas Sector
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 order to take part in that visit, we were taken through RGIT offshore survival training in Aberdeen. I confess that when Lewis Macdonald was describing his friend in the Piper Alpha events, some thoughts about that went through my mind. I was upside down in 3m of water and strapped into a seat, and was told to count to eight before I got out through the window of the mock-up helicopter. I commend the experience to Mr Ewing. I do not know whether he has had the opportunity to undertake the RGIT training yet, but it is advisable for ministerial life to do such things. A person thinks of lots of things in such moments: their friends, enemies and even people in their own party. Given that men and women who go offshore have to undertake that training every four years, it is useful for those of us who have exciting opportunities to learn more about the industry to undertake that course.
I agree with much of what the minister said at the outset. He mentioned that confidence is fairly high in the continental North Sea and west of Shetland, and that capital expenditure is strong. I agree with those sentiments and share that sense of where the industry is. I also agree that there was no consultation on tax changes with the industry. I think that he used the word “regrettable”. I entirely agree with that, but say gently to him, particularly in light of the previous speech, in which we heard calls for statutory consultation periods, that it is important that the Scottish Government is consistent on that principle when it introduces tax rises to businesses in Scotland. I commend a statutory consultation period to the ministerial front bench.
I agree with much of what the minister said at the outset. He mentioned that confidence is fairly high in the continental North Sea and west of Shetland, and that capital expenditure is strong. I agree with those sentiments and share that sense of where the industry is. I also agree that there was no consultation on tax changes with the industry. I think that he used the word “regrettable”. I entirely agree with that, but say gently to him, particularly in light of the previous speech, in which we heard calls for statutory consultation periods, that it is important that the Scottish Government is consistent on that principle when it introduces tax rises to businesses in Scotland. I commend a statutory consultation period to the ministerial front bench.
In the same item of business
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?