Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect that the present low price of oil is having on the preservation and development of the oil and gas industry skills base.

In December 2014, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published in partnership with Oil and Gas UK and OPITO (the Oil and Gas Skills body), “Fuelling the next generation: A study of the UK upstream oil and gas workforce”. This report gives an assessment of the skills base of the oil and gas industry, though the evidence was gathered before the full extent of the current fall in oil prices became apparent.

I am aware that some companies have since declared redundancies. We will continue to work closely with industry through Pilot, the Oil and Gas Industry Council and with the newly formed Scottish Energy Jobs Taskforce to assess the impact of the present low oil price on the preservation and development of the oil and gas industry skills base.