Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 12 March 2026 [Draft]
12 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
First Minister’s Question Time
UK Government Policies (Impact on North-east Scotland)
I agree with Karen Adam. In Scotland, we are in the position of having much lower unemployment than the rest of the United Kingdom, but the challenges that our oil and gas sector faces are caused by the more rapid decline of the sector, accelerated by the energy profits levy and the slower growth in renewables than we had expected.
I have made this point at this podium before, and I will make it again: the United Kingdom Government should remove the energy profits levy so that we can safeguard employment and manage the just transition in the oil and gas sector. That is the responsible way to tackle the issue. I reiterate my call to the UK Government to scrap the energy profits levy, and to scrap it now.
In the same item of business
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Presiding Officer,“Labour are doing to Aberdeen what Margaret Thatcher did to Middlesbrough, and it’s utterly shameful.”Those are the words and assessment of...
The First Minister (John Swinney)
SNP
I agree with Karen Adam. In Scotland, we are in the position of having much lower unemployment than the rest of the United Kingdom, but the challenges that o...