Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts

Wednesday 6th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Anna Soubry]

The short answer—I know you enjoy those, Mr Speaker—is an emphatic yes.

[Mr Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

15. What steps the Government are taking to support the North sea oil and gas industry.

[The Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise (Anna Soubry)]

In the 2015 Budget, the Government introduced a £1.3 billion package of tax measures to help our oil and gas industry. Today I am launching the inter-ministerial group’s oil and gas workforce plan, which sets out how we can retain talent in this sector and opportunities for workers in other sectors.

[Mr Mak]

The North sea oil and gas industry supports a range of supply chain partners, including businesses on the south coast. Will the Minister continue to support those businesses as they diversify by exporting their expertise?

[Anna Soubry]

Yes, because we fully understand the difficulties in the oil and gas sector at the moment. That is why we have launched this plan. By working together we can improve the lot, but these are difficult times for the oil and gas sector.