Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 06 March 2024 [Draft]
06 Mar 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Oil and Gas Industry
Thank you, Presiding Officer.
I am delighted to contribute to this important debate on the future of Scotland’s oil and gas sector, which is a sector that is central to the Government’s plans for a transition to a new and greener economy.
Let us start by dispensing with some of the myths that we have heard from Douglas Lumsden and focusing on simple facts.
First, oil and gas will remain part of Scotland’s energy mix for some time to come. There is no transition to net zero that sees the immediate end of oil and gas, and we are clear that there is no route to net zero except in partnership with business—especially in respect of skills and investment.
Secondly, there is a global climate emergency, and there is unequivocal scientific evidence that there is an urgent need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Thirdly and finally, our North Sea oil and gas basin is geologically mature and will inevitably decline over the coming decades.
Those are not questions of politics but of science. In that context, the right approach—the approach of a responsible Government and the approach that the SNP has consistently taken—pursues the prosperity of our people, our economy and this planet. That means a just transition that is fair and in line with our climate commitments.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12388, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, on backing Scotland’s oil and gas sector. 15:59
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
The oil and gas sector continues to be one of the most important issues in Scottish politics today—and rightly so. Tens of thousands of jobs depend on it, th...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Would Mr Lumsden care to comment on the extension of the windfall tax on the oil and gas industry, which will damage the north-east of Scotland? How will he ...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
I will gladly respond to Kevin Stewart. Yes, I am disappointed that the windfall tax has been extended, but let us have a think about what the other parties ...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
As Douglas Lumsden is so keen on economic growth, what does it say about his Government’s performance that we have had seven quarters of decline in gross dom...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Members need to speak through the chair.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
I am just about to talk about gross value added to highlight the importance of the oil and gas industry, which the Labour Party would turn its back on by tur...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you, Mr Lumsden. I call the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy, Màiri McAllan, to speak to and move amendment—
The Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
Presiding Officer, thank you—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Cabinet secretary, I had not quite finished. I need to read out the number of the amendment. I call the cabinet secretary to speak to and move amendment S6M...
The Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I am delighted to contribute to this important debate on the future of Scotland’s oil and gas sector, which is a sector that i...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
The cabinet secretary talks about prosperity. Does she support the award of a licence to the Rosebank oil field, the investment of over £8 billion that that ...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I have already been quite clear that I do not think that the decision that was taken on Rosebank was the right one. The Scottish Government has many concerns...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Can the cabinet secretary remind the Parliament how much more of our emissions, proportionately, come from imported oil and gas than from oil and gas sourced...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I do not deny the importance of oil and gas to Scotland’s energy mix; in fact, I opened my speech with an acknowledgement of their current importance. Howeve...
Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I am afraid that I do not have a great deal of time. Through our plan, we have set out a responsible and balanced set of proposals for an approach to future...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The cabinet secretary should be starting to conclude her remarks.
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I am afraid that I cannot give way. It is worth noting before I conclude that the UK budget that was announced earlier today has extended the windfall tax r...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
When the Conservatives lodged the motion, last week, it was clear what they wanted. They wanted a big bust-up, a big debate and big dividing lines. Let me tr...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
That was a good rant, but I wonder what the member says to the fact that the Office for Budget Responsibility has said that, since 2010, Britain has had the ...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
The OECD figures speak for themselves. We have had seven quarters of economic decline in GDP per head. If Mr Whittle wants to choose partial statistics, that...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Is Daniel Johnson going to talk about all the stuff that he is talking about or the stuff in the motion? Is he going to talk about Labour’s policy on oil and...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
They are the same thing. The Conservatives want to base the debate on economic growth, and that is exactly what I am doing. Let us come back to the motion. ...
The Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work (Gillian Martin)
SNP
Daniel Johnson’s party colleagues have said that a windfall tax would support new nuclear in the rest of the UK. Does he agree that it should be diverted to ...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
You should be closing, Mr Johnson.
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I will explain. We will set up Great British energy, which will create 50,000 clean power jobs in Scotland, create investment in Grangemouth and in ports and...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
It is safe to say that the debate has not panned out quite as Douglas Lumsden and Douglas Ross intended. I assume that Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak are now sa...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Will the member take an intervention?