Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19637, in the name of Patrick Harvie, on the Rosebank oil and gas field. I invite members who wish to par...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

The Scottish Greens have secured today’s debate in order to discuss the imminent decision that will be made on the revised application to drill for fossil fu...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Everyone, which I think includes the Greens, accepts that oil and gas demand is not going away. On any analysis, we will still need oil and gas in the UK by ...

Patrick Harvie Green

That completely ignores the fact, which I will come on to, that the vast majority of production from Rosebank will be for export. Rosebank’s projected carbo...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I hear what Patrick Harvie has said about global reliance on oil, but does he acknowledge that peak oil extraction from the North Sea was back in 1999, that ...

Patrick Harvie Green

The Scottish Government is also dragging its feet in relation to the pace at which we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, because it is watering down its he...

The Minister for Business and Employment (Richard Lochhead) SNP

The future of the North Sea oil and gas sector is of vital importance to Scotland’s economy and society, and it is central to our energy transition. Oil and ...

Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

Now that the compatibility report for Rosebank has been published, does the Scottish Government support Rosebank? Yes or no?

Richard Lochhead SNP

If Douglas Lumsden looks at the Scottish Government’s amendment, he will see our position, which I hope the Parliament will vote for today. There is an urge...

Patrick Harvie Green

I am sure that the minister is well aware that absolutely no one calls for all oil and gas production to be stopped immediately. Is it not clear that expandi...

Richard Lochhead SNP

The Scottish Government thinks that it is incredibly important that the guiding principles for new developments, which are outlined in our amendment, are fol...

Liam Kerr Con

Will the minister give way?

Richard Lochhead SNP

If I have time, I will take a brief intervention.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You do not have a lot of time.

Liam Kerr Con

The minister will also accept that there is a very damaging effect from the “presumption against ... oil and gas” remaining in the draft energy strategy, s...

Richard Lochhead SNP

There is a great deal of hypocrisy from Liam Kerr, given that we are discussing the energy profits levy and it was his Government that first extended it. The...

Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I thank the Greens for bringing forward this debate and for lodging a simple motion: they oppose Rosebank—that is absolutely clear. In our amendment, we are ...

Daniel Johnson Lab

I am interested to know whether the member can answer this question. I know that it is not popular to support due process or the decision-making process of t...

Douglas Lumsden Con

What is needed for stable investment is clear guidance, but we are not getting that from the UK Government or from the Scottish Government. There is no energ...

Patrick Harvie Green

Will the member give way?

Douglas Lumsden Con

I am sorry, but I do not have time. That will mean pay packets for families, orders for the supply chain and tax revenue for public services. My constituent...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Mr Lumsden, I caution you against using nicknames.

Douglas Lumsden Con

I am sorry, but she is jet set in a way, Presiding Officer.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I would also caution you against challenging the chair. I have made my concern clear.

Douglas Lumsden Con

Okay, Presiding Officer. We have the former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in favour of a presumption against oil and gas; wannabe First Minister Stephen Fl...

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Scottish Labour has been clear that oil and gas will be part of Scotland’s and the UK’s energy mix for decades to come. We were clear about that in our elect...

Liam Kerr Con

The Scottish Trades Union Congress says that just one job has been created for every £1 million that has been generated by the wind industry. It contrasts th...

Sarah Boyack Lab

What we need is to make sure that we fulfil the potential in renewables so that we have companies that make wind turbines and other kit in Scotland. For exam...

Patrick Harvie Green

Will the member give way?

Sarah Boyack Lab

No, thank you. Our transport system also needs investment to deliver decarbonised infrastructure so that people can access reliable and affordable buses and...