Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 03 October 2024
03 Oct 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Just Transition (Grangemouth Area and North-east and Moray)
Mr Kerr makes his point very well. I will return to the committee’s report, because we took some evidence on that issue. Fergus Mutch, who was representing the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, told us that decisions were being taken by Governments that were damaging the sector and that investment was being driven elsewhere following those decisions.
The energy profits levy is a good example of that. The Labour approach to that levy is to remove all allowances. According to Offshore Energies UK, that would reduce the value of the oil and gas sector by £13 billion by 2029, which puts about 35,000 jobs at risk. I say to Mr Johnson that that is not my estimate, but that of the industry itself.
The SNP is little better. Its presumption against new exploration in the North Sea will add to the industry’s woes.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-14689, in the name of Claire Baker, on behalf of the Economy and Fair Work Committee, on the just transit...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on behalf of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. I highlight the committee’s two just transition reports, focus...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Alasdair Allan to speak on behalf of the Scottish Government for a generous eight minutes. 15:00
The Acting Minister for Climate Action (Alasdair Allan)
SNP
The Scottish Government welcomes the Economy and Fair Work Committee’s recent inquiries into a just transition for Grangemouth and for the north-east and Mor...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Can the minister explain a little more about the £20 million—the £10 million from each of the Governments? Originally, the growth deal was described as the F...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
The name recognises the fact that Grangemouth, as a community, was always included in the deal. As I understand it, that has been the purpose of the funding ...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
When I was reading the committee’s report, I was struck by how prescient it was about the action that was required. Given that the minister has just highligh...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
As I mentioned, the Scottish Government has long understood the criticality of the wider Grangemouth cluster. That is why we made a commitment to develop a j...
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
On the point about rapid transformations, does the minister have any thoughts about the recent Daily Telegraph article that reported that the anticipated vol...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
The measures that I have set out and the measures that I am announcing now indicate the importance and urgency that both Governments attach to intervention i...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Will the minister give way?
Alasdair Allan
SNP
I hope that the member will forgive me, but I have to make progress. Perhaps later on. There are long-term plans to support long-term outcomes. We have star...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I echo the comments of the committee convener. I thank the committee clerks for their assistance, the Scottish Parliament information centre and all those wh...
Lorna Slater (Lothian) (Green)
Green
Will the member give way?
Murdo Fraser
Con
I will after I make one more point. Even when we stop using oil and gas as an energy source, we will still need it as the raw material for a petrochemical i...
Lorna Slater
Green
Does the member recognise that the oil and gas that is pulled out of the North Sea is sold on the international market? It is not reserved for domestic use. ...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I note that Lorna Slater did not refer to the point that I made about the petrochemical industry, which is still vitally important and will be for many years...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Does Murdo Fraser agree that the likelihood of an imminent shutdown of the North Sea as a production base for oil and gas has been hastened by the reckless f...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Mr Kerr makes his point very well. I will return to the committee’s report, because we took some evidence on that issue. Fergus Mutch, who was representing t...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank Murdo Fraser for giving way. One element that has not been addressed today is the just transition that will be required in the Scottish nuclear indus...
Murdo Fraser
Con
Mr Hoy makes an excellent point. A friend and neighbour of mine in Perth who works in the nuclear industry is now based in Cumbria, because these jobs do not...
The Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy (Gillian Martin)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Murdo Fraser
Con
I will give way if I have time, Deputy Presiding Officer.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Yes. I call the cabinet secretary.
Gillian Martin
SNP
I was really just going to listen, but I have to say that it is very important, when we have longer-term funds such as this, that we carry out an assessment ...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I absolutely agree with that. Of course it makes sense to assess whether the money is being properly spent. At the same time, the Scottish Government pledged...
Gillian Martin
SNP
Mr Fraser has maybe taken my intervention in slightly the wrong way. What I am saying is that, when you put funding in place, you must reflect on how it has ...
Murdo Fraser
Con
That is helpful clarity from the cabinet secretary. We look forward to hearing more from her in due course about exactly how the just transition fund will be...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I advise members that, in fact, at the moment, we have some time in hand. Therefore, I can be generous. 15:20
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the committee members and all those who were involved in contributing to the reports, because they could not have been more timely. I acknowledge th...