The SNP have been slammed over an expert report that today declared “there is still no transition plan” for North East oil and gas workers.
The Scottish Government frequently mentions a “just transition” for oil and gas workers, in the hope renewables work will appear for tens of thousands of Scots working in the North Sea.
But the independent Just Transition Commission’s latest report highlights how the SNP must work “with industry”, amid claims of working against it.
The authors state: “Supportive action is required for proactive engagement with workers and communities most impacted on the transition away from oil and gas while building a unified vision on a fair, low emission future.”
Scottish Government policy presumes against new oil and gas exploration and development in the North Sea, and it has never withdrawn its opposition to the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields.
Scottish Conservative shadow energy secretary Douglas Lumsden today urged Scottish Ministers to understand what his constituents “already know”.
He said:
“Today, the just transition Commission has published its latest damning report highlighting how this devolved government is failing workers in the north east.
“The message from this report is clear — this government is not delivering a just transition for Aberdeen and the north east.
“The SNP simply do not care about the hard-working oil and gas workers in the North East.
“My constituents do not need another report to tell them what they already know.
“They need action, and they need it now.”
SNP energy secretary Gillian Martin said: “I have read the report, and indeed I welcome all the interventions that the just transition commission made…
“I take everything that the Just Transition Commission says very seriously, and I work with them on how we can deliver a just transition in North East, on a regular basis.”
Later, Mr Lumsden said: “SNP and Labour ministers have been asleep at the wheel and have still failed to produce any future plan for oil and gas workers.
“The North East is already feeling the devastating effects of that with 250 job losses at Harbour Energy announced earlier this month.
“Labour’s only solution appears to be their GB Energy gimmick that even their CEO admits will only deliver 1,000 jobs over 20 years. That is not a transition, it is a demolition.”
