Moray MP Douglas Ross says he “welcomed” the opportunity to meet with UK Government Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart ahead of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill returning to the House of Commons on Monday.
The Bill was initially meant to be debated in the UK Parliament earlier this month but was delayed after MPs had lengthy exchanges on the conflict in Israel and Gaza as well as the Post Office scandal meant that not enough time was left to debate it properly.
Douglas is supportive of the bill – which seeks to introduce annual rounds for new oil and gas licences to be delivered – subject to stringent emissions tests – and intends to speak in the House of Commons on Monday.
He says the meeting with the minister allowed him to hear how the bill will protect the UK’s energy security as well as ensuring that the oil and gas industry will play a key role in the United Kingdom achieving ambitious net zero targets.
Douglas says it is only the UK Government who are standing up for tens of thousands of jobs – including many people living in Moray – that are supported by the oil and gas industry in the North Sea in sharp contrast to the SNP-Green government and Keir Starmer’s Labour Party who have “turned their backs on highly-skilled workers.”
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “I was pleased to have this opportunity to meet with the Minster ahead of this crucial bill coming back to the House of Commons.
“I support the UK Government’s plans and hope to get the chance to say so in Parliament on Monday. The meeting with the minister allowed me to hear how an annual round of new oil and gas licences will help protect our energy security and also ensure our oil and gas industry is at the heart of our plans to hit net zero in the coming years.
“The oil and gas industry in the North Sea plays such a crucial role in supporting thousands of jobs including many here in Moray. While we all want to achieve net zero targets, that won’t be achieved by relying on costly imports.
“That is why it is great to see the UK Government backing the industry and highly-skilled workers. That is in sharp contrast to other political parties like the SNP-Green government and Keir Starmer’s Labour Party who have turned their back on the sector.
“I’m grateful to Graham Stuart for taking the time to meet with me to discuss this important new bill ahead of it being debated in the House of Commons.”