Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 12 December 2024.
Alasdair Allan
Scottish National Party
2:30,
12 December 2024
As the member will be aware, decisions on offshore oil and gas licensing and consenting are reserved to the United Kingdom Government. The Scottish Government’s draft energy strategy and just transition plan includes a proposal for consultation of support for a presumption against licensing for exploration to identify entirely new fields. We have never proposed a policy of no new licensing at all. Where fields are already identified but are not yet in production, we consulted on support for those continuing to progress through the licensing and consenting process, subject to a robust climate compatibility checkpoint.
The judgments and issues in the strategy are informed and influenced by recent developments in the UK Government’s energy policy and court decisions. This is a rapidly changing landscape and we are taking time to reflect on those developments and the strategy before drawing any conclusions and publishing any final strategy.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
