Oil talks set to continue

Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has called for the UK and Scottish Governments to work together to find ways of supporting the oil and gas industry.

His comments come after he attended a ‘PILOT’ meeting on Tuesday, which brought together the industry, UK and Scottish governments.

‘PILOT’ – formerly the Oil and Gas Taskforce –  facilitates the partnership between the oil and gas sector and government to help secure the long-term future of the industry.

It was chaired by the UK Government and attended by representatives from major oil and gas companies as well as the Scottish Government.

Mr Carmichael will now head to Aberdeen on Thursday with Energy Secretary Ed Davey for talks with the oil industry.

Speaking ahead of the Aberdeen visit, Mr Carmichael said: “Yesterday’s meeting was a good opportunity to get everyone around the table and get some clarity on the challenges now facing the North Sea oil and gas sector.

“In government we have been quick to meet the oil industry to hear what we can be doing to support them, and I am pleased that at yesterday’s meeting the Scottish Government now support a collaborative effort going forward.

“That said, we live in a rapidly-changing world. With the price of oil this morning now at $45.81 per barrel we understand that it will be necessary to do more. In particular, I am keen that everything possible should be done to protect the position of small and medium sized companies in the supply chain.

“Both the UK and Scottish Governments have a range of powers they can use to help oil and gas companies, as well as those in the supply chain. We should all be pulling together to help the industry weather the current storm.

“Tomorrow I will be joined by the Energy Secretary for further roundtable talks with the industry in Aberdeen. We are committed to doing everything we can to help the sector emerge strongly from this difficult time.”