Manifesto for oil and gas launched in run-up to Scottish elections
A manifesto outlining the four key commitments the next Scottish Government can make to help secure the future of the North Sea oil and gas industry has been launched by Oil & Gas UK.
The trade body has listed the areas where Holyrood can help after Scotland goes to the polls on May 5. It urges the next Parliament to:
• Create a supportive business environment that keeps Scotland internationally competitive and outlines a clear Scottish fiscal policy, sets appropriate business rates and helps promote the supply chain overseas, enabling Scotland to deliver strong exports of oilfield goods and services.
• Deliver world-class infrastructure and connectivity that ensures Scottish industry hubs are well connected in Scotland and to those in the rest of the UK and overseas. This means strong transport links, quality broadband and speedy delivery of the Aberdeen City Region Deal.
• Help innovation to flourish as technology will have a greater role to play in developing new and existing fields to their full potential, and also work quickly to deliver the new Oil and Gas Technology Centre.
• Support skills retention and development by continuing the work of the Energy Jobs Task Force, promoting STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths – subjects that makes school leavers and graduates job-ready, and also implements the UK apprenticeship levy in a way to respond to industry’s needs.
Deirdre Michie, chief executive for Oil & Gas UK, said: “We have enjoyed constructive relations with the outgoing Scottish Government and MSPs and look forward to forging the same links with the next Parliament. Our manifesto outlines the commitments the Scottish Government can make to help protect and preserve our industry which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and is critical for helping to deliver the UK’s energy needs.”
The manifesto launch comes just ahead of an Oil & Gas UK hustings where industry representatives will hear what prospective parliamentary candidates think about oil and gas and the sector’s role in the nation’s economy.
The prospective MSPs attending the Tuesday (12 April) event at Oil & Gas UK’s Aberdeen offices – taking place between 7.30am and 9.30am – are:
• Fergus Ewing – SNP
• Murdo Fraser – Scottish Conservatives
• Lewis Macdonald – Scottish Labour
• Mike Rumbles – Scottish Liberal Democrats
• Dan Yeats – Scottish Greens
