Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent steps he has taken to protect (a) employment levels, (b) infrastructure integrity and (c) production capacity in the offshore oil and gas industry.

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked Andy Samuel, Chief Executive designate of the Oil and Gas Authority, to accelerate work with industry to identify key risks to oil and gas production in the UK Continental Shelf and identify what further measures might be taken by government and industry to mitigate them, including on infrastructure.

Dr Samuel will also be attending the Aberdeen City Oil and Gas Summit on 2 February and participating in the jobs taskforce set up by the Scottish Government.

We are speedily implementing the Wood Review recommendations which aim to ensure maximum economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources.