Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:30 pm on 23 July 1998.
Robert Smith
Liberal Democrat, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
3:30,
23 July 1998
Further to the question on the oil tax, does the right hon. Lady not realise that, for an industry to make investment decisions, it has to know what the Government intend to do with the tax regime? The Government keep promising to say something, but then say nothing. Is the right hon. Lady aware that Labour Members and nationalist Members are fighting over the fact that the Government have made a U-turn, and about who is responsible? The industry cannot have confidence in Back-Bench speculation; it needs to know what the Government are planning to do.