Exploit last North Sea oil and gas or risk mass job losses, Andy Burnham urged
Summary
Shevaun Haviland, director of the British Chambers of Commerce, urged Andy Burnham to use the UK’s remaining North Sea oil and gas resources to prevent large job losses in Scotland and the north-east. She also highlighted that high business costs are hurting investment and called for action to reduce these costs and support local industries, especially as the transition to clean energy is not creating enough new jobs quickly enough.Key Facts
- The UK is currently importing liquefied natural gas, which is more expensive and less eco-friendly than North Sea gas.
- The decision on whether to develop the Jackdaw and Rosebank oil and gas fields may soon be made by Andy Burnham’s administration.
- The business community supports clean energy but says offshore wind projects are not creating enough local jobs to replace those lost in oil and gas.
- Many local suppliers in the north-east are closing because they are not involved in new energy industries, with much equipment still imported from overseas.
- There is concern that job losses in oil and gas could be large, similar to the decline of coal mining in the past.
- Business costs in the UK have increased by 70% over the last ten years, including taxes, regulations, wages, and trade issues after Brexit.
- High costs make businesses hesitant to invest, which slows economic growth and reduces tax income.
- The Business Industrial Competitiveness scheme aims to reduce energy bills for some companies, but its reach is currently too limited.
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