4. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the energy minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the recommendations to the Scottish Government contained in the report, “Our Power: Offshore Workers’ Demands for a Just Energy Transition”. (S6O-02263)

The Scottish Government welcomes the report and agrees that listening to and acting on recommendations from offshore workers is critical to ensuring a just transition. That is why we have provided £100,000 in funding to the Scottish Trades Union Congress, to ensure that workers’ voices are at the very heart of our just transition planning.

My colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, advised that the recommendations that are provided in the report would be considered in full during the consultation period for the “Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan”, and responded to in the final draft. A range of ministers will continue to work closely together on that, given that it requires cross-portfolio and cross-sector working.

The minister will be aware that a key demand from offshore workers in the “Our Power” report is that the Scottish Government create an offshore training passport that aligns standards across the energy industry. That passport has already been delayed by the Government and, just today, the general secretary of the STUC warned the Government to “get to grips” with the transition.

Can the minister reassure offshore workers and their trade unions that the energy skills passport will align offshore basic safety, sea survival and firefighting standards? I am looking for a cast-iron guarantee from the Government on this point. Will those standards be aligned—yes or no?

I thank Mercedes Villalba for bringing up the offshore skills passport, because I want to say that it has not been delayed by Government. An industry-led body is taking it forward, and the Government’s role is to help to fund it. We have awarded £5 million from the just transition fund to OPITO, which is leading on the digital energy skills passport. A key milestone was reached with the development of a prototype, which I have seen.

Mercedes Villalba will know that, in addition to the report that she cites, I did my own report on the issue, and it came out loud and clear that, for anything to do with an energy skills passport, the industry and sectors have to be at the heart of it. I am meeting OPITO next week to see what progress has been made.

Yesterday’s energy transition report highlighted how damaging to a just energy transition this Government’s demonising of the North Sea oil and gas industry is. That was epitomised by minister Patrick Harvie saying that only the “hard right” supports new oil and gas. Does the minister recognise the report’s findings, will she amend the energy strategy to stop the damage that it is doing to our industry, and will she join us in supporting domestic oil and gas exploration and production?

I was smiling as Liam Kerr delivered his question, because he knows full well that I very much have a foot in every part of the energy mix. My interest in keeping the energy mix vibrant, working and employing people until we transition is very much something that I prioritise.

Liam Kerr refers to the energy strategy, the consultation for which has closed. It will be reported on in the coming months. I am actively involved, along with my cabinet secretary and other cabinet secretaries, in looking at that and at how we can give confidence to all energy sectors that the Scottish Government fully supports them and their workers.