A minister has said the SNP is taking an "extinction rebellion" approach to switching off oil and gas production in the North Sea.
SNP business spokesman Stephen Flynn criticised the Government in the Commons, accusing them of overseeing the loss of 35,000 jobs in Scotland's North Sea industry.
Victoria Jones
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “To hear the members of the Scottish National Party giving us lectures about energy when they are not committed to nuclear, they are in bed with the Greens who simply want to flick the switch off on oil and gas in their own country – there is an extraordinary arrogance in this.
"I am very happy to compare my record, our record, as job creators with his extinction rebellion approach to the North Sea."
Mr Flynn replied: “I am afraid the Secretary of State does his reputation no good whatsoever by propagating such unfounded garbage.
"If he wants to talk about records let’s talk about records, because despite energy being reserved to this place it is the Scottish Government that has delivered the £62million energy transition fund, it is the Scottish Government that just delivered £30million to Aberdeen South harbour, is it the Scottish Government that has delivered £15million to Aberdeen hydrogen hub and of course it is the Scottish Government who has just delivered a £500million just transition fund for the entire north east of Scotland."
Responding to Mr Kwarteng’s claims the Government had a good record on investing in North Sea oil and gas, SNP business spokesman Stephen Flynn asked: “After taking out some £375billion from Scotland’s natural resources, when are the Tories going to give back?”
Mr Kwarteng stated: "I am not going to take any lectures from him about energy policy."
“You should!” Mr Flynn shouted in response.
The Business Secretary continued: “His party is committed to a job-destroying coalition with the Greens who want to switch the lights off in the North Sea. “Everybody knows that, that is why investment is very difficult to attract. Our job is to militate against their extinction rebellion approach and encourage investment in the North Sea."
