Scottish Ministers now have new powers over onshore oil and gas licensing, continuing the drive to make the Scottish Parliament one of the most powerful devolved administrations in the world.
The latest in a raft of powers transferred to Holyrood through the Scotland Act 2016, these include:
- Powers to legislate for the granting and regulation of licences to search and bore for and get petroleum;
- Powers to determine the terms and conditions of licences;
- Powers to regulate the licensing process.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said:
“This is the latest in the transfer of significant new powers to the Scottish Parliament.
“The Scotland Act 2016 delivers in full the recommendations of the Smith commission. We promised to make the Scottish Parliament one of the most powerful devolved administrations in the world, and we have delivered on that promise.
“People in Scotland now have a greater say than ever before over their own affairs, while retaining the security and safety of being part of a strong United Kingdom.”
