UK business secretary Greg Clark has been urged to put the oil and gas supply chain “at the heart” of strategies for future Government investment plans, and secure the status of EU nationals working within the industry.
SNP Energy spokesman Callum McCaig questioned if the sector will be shown the same promotion and support regularly given to the UK aviation and automotive industries as future areas of growth.
The Aberdeen South MP went on to seek assurances from the Secretary of State over the future of EU nationals working across the oil and gas supply chain in the north-east of Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.
Speaking after questions in the House of Commons, Mr McCaig said: “The world class oil and gas industry and its exceptional supply chain stretches the length of this country, and the UK Government needs to be careful to remember businesses within these sectors have plans and the potential to grow and expand but they need support to do that.
“Theresa May’s government should be giving businesses in oil and gas the same levels of promotion as are shown to the automotive and aviation industries so regularly. In particular there needs to be a refocusing on the security of EU nationals who play a vital role in the sector’s workforce.
“Businesses have repeatedly called for clarity on the future of their employees, but so far we have yet to see a concrete policy implemented by the Tory government. Loose promises and commitments have been made by Ms May and her cabinet, but experiences over the past few months have made it difficult to take the Tories at their word.”
The move comes after the SNP backed trade body Oil & Gas UK’s (OGUK) calls for measures to help boost investor confidence in North Sea exploration and production in the Autumn Statement.
OGUK wrote to Chancellor Philip Hammond urging him to send out “a strong signal of confidence and support” in the sector when the government unveils its fiscal plans on 23 November.
The body’s wish list includes allowing decommissioning tax relief to be transferred upon an asset sale to encourage new entrants to the basin and extending investment allowance to include enhanced oil recovery techniques.
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