Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the oil and gas sector on the inclusion of developing future technology in the oil and gas sector deal.
Answered by Claire Perry
Several sectors, including our vital offshore oil and gas industry, have expressed interest in a Sector Deal and we are considering seriously these credible industry-led proposals. We intend to progress with further Deals that best meet the expectations set out in the White Paper in due course.
I have met representatives of the offshore sector including Trevor Garlick, the Sector Deal Champion, on multiple occasions in both London and Aberdeen to discuss their proposal for a Sector Deal. These were wide-ranging discussions covering all aspects of the proposal including ideas for the development of transformational technology. My officials also have regular and ongoing contact with the industry’s sector deal team on this subject.
Technology is considered critical to the future of the North Sea oil and gas industry which is why this Government committed to support the establishment of the new Oil and Gas Technology Centre in Aberdeen as part of the City Region Deal.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the Scottish economy of developing carbon capture and storage infrastructure in the north east of Scotland.
Answered by Claire Perry
The Government welcomes the development of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) proposals from across the UK. We are investing in supporting the technology and have invested over £365 million in CCUS since 2011.
This includes supporting a potential CCUS project in the North East of Scotland, where Government has allocated £1.3 million in funding to Project Acorn in St. Fergus, Aberdeenshire, through the Accelerating Carbon Technologies Research Programme. In addition, the UK Government jointly funded, with the Scottish Government, the now completed feasibility work on the proposed Caledonia Clean Energy Project in Grangemouth, Scotland.
Asked by: David Duguid (Conservative - Banff and Buchan)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Scottish oil and gas industry on how that industry can benefit from the industrial strategy.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
I visited Aberdeen in late August and had detailed discussions with senior representatives from the oil and gas sector at the MER UK Forum and at the Oil & Gas UK Joint Council which included discussions on the modern industrial strategy. I also had a round-table discussion on the topic of the industrial strategy with the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. BEIS officials remain in close contact with oil and gas industry representatives.