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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Hands off' warning to SNP on oil | 'Hands off' warning to SNP on oil |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish Government will not be allowed to gain control over North Sea oil revenues, a UK minister has warned. | The Scottish Government will not be allowed to gain control over North Sea oil revenues, a UK minister has warned. |
| Before the election, the SNP said it wanted early talks with Westminster about the transfer of responsibility to the Scottish Parliament. | Before the election, the SNP said it wanted early talks with Westminster about the transfer of responsibility to the Scottish Parliament. |
| But Scotland Office minister David Cairns will tell an oil conference that the UK Government has "no intention" of devolving control of oil and gas. | But Scotland Office minister David Cairns will tell an oil conference that the UK Government has "no intention" of devolving control of oil and gas. |
| It comes as analysts suggest production is down despite massive investment. | It comes as analysts suggest production is down despite massive investment. |
| Introducing needless uncertainty into an £11bn industry which supports half a million jobs is not an option David CairnsScotland Office minister | |
| Mr Cairns will deliver his warning during a speech at the Offshore Europe Exhibition in Aberdeen. | |
| He will tell delegates: "The interests of both Scotland and the UK are best served through continued economic union and the benefits which accompany a UK-wide approach. | |
| "Our thinking on this issue is therefore unequivocal - introducing needless uncertainty into an £11bn industry which supports half a million jobs is not an option for the UK Government." | |
| In his report on the SNP's first 100 days in power, First Minister Alex Salmond said meetings over oil revenues were being sought - and that his administration was also investigating the arrangements Northern Ireland has on energy powers. | |
| Output down | |
| But Mr Cairns will warn that North Sea oil is a UK resource and the UK Government has "no intention of devolving oil and gas powers to Holyrood" and there is a "vast array of sound reasons" to block any bid to transfer control. | |
| Meanwhile, the monthly Royal Bank of Scotland oil index puts the average daily output of oil in June at 1.263 million barrels worth £45.3m a day, or 6% down on the previous month. | |
| Combined daily oil and gas production is put at 2.243 million barrels of oil equivalent worth £69m. | |
| Although some of the decrease is for seasonal reasons, including summer maintenance shutdowns, the figure for oil alone is down 11.4% on June last year, and the combined oil and gas figure is down 12.9% | |
| The bank noted: "The year-on-year decline in oil and gas production in the North Sea continued through June, despite near-record investment in 2006." |