Strong oil and gas industry good for isles

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has welcomed the findings of a new report which suggested that UK oil and gas activities have increased significantly in 2012, with eight new North Sea fields coming online so far this year.

The report from Deloitte showed that the number of new fields now producing was higher in the first half of 2012 than the whole of last year.

A spokesman from Deloitte pointed to the tax changes announced by the Chancellor at Budget 2012 as one reason for the spike in activity.