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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 14 May 2025

14 May 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Oil and Gas Industry
Martin, Gillian SNP Aberdeenshire East Watch on SPTV

The energy transition is at the heart of Scotland’s economic growth potential as well as our response to global climate change, and it is vital to our energy security. Our oil and gas workforce really does give us an advantage over other countries in that energy transition. Even if it were not an existential imperative for us to decrease our reliance on the burning of fossil fuels in our daily lives, the maturity of the North Sea basin is a fact that must propel our sector to pivot to secure future energy opportunities in Scotland for decades and into future generations.

It is not a case of having oil of gas over here and renewables over there—it is a whole energy sector, with oil and gas companies also holding licence options in Scotland, as members will know.

Harbour Energy has said that its decision to cut jobs is largely down to the UK Government’s energy profits levy. The Deputy First Minister met with the company last week, and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government met industry stakeholders today, to discuss the impacts of the EPL.

The EPL was introduced as a supposed temporary measure by the former Conservative UK Government.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17525, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, on protecting Scotland’s oil and gas industry. I invite members wh...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con) Con
In June last year, we had a debate in the chamber on oil and gas. Almost a year later, the sector is in a worse state, thanks to the policies of this devolve...
Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP
Has the member taken some time to read the recent Scottish Renewables “Scotland’s renewable energy industry—supply chain impact statement”, which sets out so...
Douglas Lumsden Con
I am all for the jobs of tomorrow, but we need to protect the jobs of today. We have seen 2,500 jobs being lost in the past year—that is down to policies fro...
Humza Yousaf (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) SNP
Wait a minute—come on.
Douglas Lumsden Con
To say to my constituents—Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer LD
Mr Lumsden—
Douglas Lumsden Con
—and even more disgustingly, in the case of the cabinet secretary—Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer LD
Mr Lumsden. Can I remind you that the Presiding Officer—Interruption.
Douglas Lumsden Con
Last week, the Presiding Officer did nothing about it—Interruption. On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. On 8 May 2025, the First Minister used th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer LD
Mr Lumsden, this is going to be a debate in which we are going to see emotions rise. I am asking, at the outset, if we can set a tone in which courtesy and r...
Douglas Lumsden Con
Okay. Right.
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con) Con
But that is not right.
The Acting Minister for Climate Action (Alasdair Allan) SNP
Are you challenging the chair? Members: Oh!
The Deputy Presiding Officer LD
Minister, that is unhelpful by way of a contribution. Mr Lumsden, continue.
Douglas Lumsden Con
I will move on, Deputy Presiding Officer. What is the Government doing for oil and gas workers in the north-east? The answer is nothing. What a tragic stage...
The Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy (Gillian Martin) SNP
The energy transition is at the heart of Scotland’s economic growth potential as well as our response to global climate change, and it is vital to our energy...
Douglas Lumsden Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Gillian Martin SNP
I would like to make some progress, Deputy Presiding Officer—Interruption. It would be good to do so without being heckled. The EPL was introduced as a supp...
Stephen Kerr Con
Abandoned!
Gillian Martin SNP
Is the Acorn project up and running because of the Conservative Government? The answer is no. It was abandoned by the Tories when they were in power—
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con
Will the minister take an intervention on project Acorn?
Gillian Martin SNP
I will.
Liam Kerr Con
The previous Conservative Government put just over £40 million towards project Acorn. How much has the Scottish Government put towards it?
Gillian Martin SNP
The Scottish Government has pledged upwards of £80 million—Interruption. The recommendation from those in the Acorn project and the Scottish cluster is that ...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab
Although I do not agree with some of the rhetoric of Douglas Lumsden’s characteristic contribution, I am grateful for the opportunity to debate the future of...
Gillian Martin SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Michael Marra Lab
No—my time is far too brief. As Douglas Lumsden rightly pointed out, the SNP has dragged its feet on publishing an energy strategy. The draft strategy was p...
Stephen Kerr Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Michael Marra Lab
I am afraid that I do not have time. We must ensure that the fiscal regime for the UK continental shelf sustains continued employment, profits and tax reven...