Before going any further, what is that image doing there in The National?
How are decisions made about oil and gas exploration, development and extraction in the North Sea off the coast of Scotland?
Decisions on oil and gas exploration, development, and extraction in the North Sea off Scotland are made primarily under UK (reserved) powers, through a system of licences and activity-specific consents regulated by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), with environmental oversight by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) and key agreements from the Secretary of State. Offshore licensing is not devolved to the Scottish Government (unlike onshore licensing, which was transferred under the Scotland Act 2016). https://www.gov.scot/policies/oil-and-gas/
Does the Scottish Government have any real say in decisions?
In short, for the core decisions on whether a company can explore, develop, or extract oil and gas offshore, the Scottish Government has no statutory veto, consent power, or direct regulatory role. https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-36532
Has the Scottish Government ever had meaningful impact on decisions?
In summary, the Scottish Government’s meaningful, direct impact has been strongest on onshore licensing and adjacent policy areas such as marine planning and the just transition. On the core reserved decisions about whether companies can explore, develop, or extract oil and gas in the North Sea, its influence has been political and symbolic rather than decisive or statutory.
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Apparently according to the other media within the UK State the pressure is mostly on John Swinney in respect to Rosebank oil field being given the green light.
That’s because the UK political and UK media establishment need John Swinney to ok this new oil field , so that when the devastating impact of climate change keeps happening, then the FM and the Scottish government (SNP) can be those who are blamed and so targeted by those who will then hold protests outside the parliament at Holyrood .
Meanwhile Labour, Tory and Reform UK MSP’s can all get off seemingly ‘Scot’ free , when we all know that they and their respective HQ’s are the ones applying pressure upon the FM on this matter , they are also those who still want fossil fuels to continue as an energy source within the UK State.
Liz S
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Quite !
It’s a case of a ”patsy” getting the blame for those pulling the strings .
Westminster cannot be blamed if the blame can be shifted to the SNP Government – and the compliant UK media will make sure of that ! ( Is The National aware of this ? )
Heads they win tails we lose !
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