Almost 10,000 workers have now lost their jobs in the North Sea oil and gas sector, according to Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.
The Scottish Government has come under increasing pressure to release up-to-date estimates on the number of redundancies in the north-east amid accusations the administration should do more to help the sector.
Scottish Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald raised the matter at Holyrood today, having written to Mr Ewing on the issue.
Mr Ewing said: “The number of (jobs lost as a result of the oil price downturn) has reached almost 10,000.
“We continue to monitor the impact on the industry.”
Mr Ewing said around 2500 of those made redundant have already been “helped” by the government’s Energy Jobs Taskforce.
He added: “We are determined to do everything that is practicable within our powers to help the industry.”
The Energy Minister also reiterated calls for the Chancellor, George Osborne, to “include a substantial package of tax measures” to help the North Sea industry in his budget next month.
North East member Mr Macdonald said it was important the Scottish Government did everything that is possible to help the sector.
He pointed to trade union estimates that suggest the claimant count has risen by 80% year on year in the north-east.
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