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Rosebank and Jackdaw Oilfields 2025-02-10
10 February 2025
Lead MP
Andrew Bowie
Debate Type
Urgent Question
Tags
Climate
Other Contributors: 26
At a Glance
Andrew Bowie raised concerns about rosebank and jackdaw oilfields 2025-02-10 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm that the Government will support the applications for Rosebank and Jackdaw oilfields, given their importance to jobs and investment in the North Sea?
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeanshire and Kincardine
Question
Does the Minister appreciate that cutting investment in renewables follows from undermining oil and gas industries, risking billions of pounds and thousands of jobs? The government's zealotry puts these at risk.
Minister reply
The previous Secretary of State made an unlawful decision. We follow due process now. New applications must account for emissions as per Supreme Court ruling. No new licences but existing fields remain open for investment.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Question
Does the Minister agree that stronger planning and transition would have better positioned workers and communities dealing with North Sea job losses?
Minister reply
The previous Government failed to address the ongoing transition. 70,000 jobs lost in a decade show the need for early planning. We aim to build future industries now to protect good jobs.
South Cambridgeshire
Question
Does the Minister agree that approving these oilfields contradicts our climate commitments, and what assessment will be made regarding those commitments?
Minister reply
Future applications must consider scope 3 emissions as per Supreme Court ruling. Any new developments must align with UK's climate obligations.
Bradley Thomas
Con
Bromsgrove
Question
Does the Minister agree there is a double standard in the Government backing Heathrow expansion for economic growth but not providing maximum support for our domestic oil and gas industry?
Minister reply
The Chancellor has been clear that there is no conflict between net zero commitments and industrialisation. Economic projects such as Heathrow runway will be important, but they must align with climate obligations. The Government recognises the importance of oil and gas in the economy for many years to come while also planning for future transitions.
Polly Billington
Lab
East Thanet
Question
How can we ensure a fair transition away from fossil fuels, given historical issues with coalfield communities being left behind?
Minister reply
We are determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We need to plan for the transition now and support workers into new industries. The Government will invest in future technologies like Great British Energy, which is important for north-east Scotland's economic prosperity.
Dave Doogan
SNP
Angus and Perthshire Glens
Question
What are Scottish workers thinking as they see the UK Government accelerating the decline of North sea oil jobs before new jobs come in? Should not reduction in production be commensurate with demand?
Minister reply
The SNP position is that climate obligations must be considered for any new licences. The transition needs to have Government support, and investment in future industries like carbon capture and storage will create new job opportunities.
Luke Murphy
Lab
Basingstoke
Question
How does the Minister plan to deliver a clean energy mission that will provide economic growth and lower bills, given previous Government failures?
Minister reply
Our clean power mission is about building home-grown renewable power for long-term energy security. While oil and gas will continue to play an important part in our economy, we are focused on delivering the future through clean energy.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Will the Government's decision-making process be free from judicial review once scope 3 emissions have been taken into account?
Minister reply
The Supreme Court made it clear that applications should take account of scope 3 emissions. The North Sea Transition Authority will make judgments and the Secretary of State will ultimately decide on consents, but there is a possibility for legal appeals if someone disagrees with the decision.
Stella Creasy
Lab/Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
Given Rosebank's 80% oil destined for non-UK markets, how does the Minister view this project in terms of energy security and bill reductions?
Minister reply
Climate change impacts are real and present. The previous decision to proceed with Rosebank did not consider emissions adequately. Gas from North sea is traded on open market by private companies and does not benefit British consumers directly.
Carla Denyer
Green
Bristol Central
Question
Can the Minister confirm that his Government will stop extraction from 13 new oil fields licensed but awaiting final consents?
Minister reply
We have outlined our position on licensing at the election: no new licences for exploration, honouring existing ones, and not removing licences. Consents must consider climate tests as per Supreme Court requirements.
Harriet Cross
Con
Gordon and Buchan
Question
We have already seen that if Rosebank does not go ahead £6.6 billion-worth of investment and 2,000 jobs will be lost. Are the Government still committed to jobs and security in the north-east of Scotland?
Minister reply
I am acutely aware of the importance of ensuring certainty in the north-east of Scotland. We are determined that we cannot move forward simply saying that oil and gas is the only future for the north-east. They are finite resources, and we are clearly saying that the balance requires us to start investing now in the transition.
Barry Gardiner
Lab
Brent West
Question
Can he confirm that the 3 million oil barrels from Rosebank would not take a penny off bills, cannot make us energy secure and would only worsen the climate crisis?
Minister reply
We have outlined our determination to deliver energy security. The previous Government lacked preparedness for future energy security and led to higher bills. We are determined that we will no longer be in thrall to petrostates and dictators.
South Devon
Question
What steps are the Government taking right now to improve energy efficiency of homes across the UK?
Minister reply
We are improving the standard of homes through the work being done on the warm homes plan. We know that some of the poorest people live in substandard homes and we are determined to reduce the need for households to heat their homes by making them warmer.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Sheffield Hallam
Question
Does the Minister agree that we should focus on a fair transition for our communities and workers as we move to other forms of energy, rather than giving CPR to an already declining industry?
Minister reply
A fair transition is key to ensuring that we move away from a carbon-based economy. We have already closed the last coal power stations and are planning for the future now.
Richard Tice
Reform
Boston and Skegness
Question
Will the Minister give an indication—yes or no to a compliant application?
Minister reply
I will not adjudicate on applications before either company has applied. We have put in place a robust process whereby the Supreme Court judgment sets out a clear pathway on exactly what companies must do in future applications.
Joani Reid
Lab
East Kilbride and Strathaven
Question
Does he agree that it is vital that the Government honour not just the letter but the spirit of our manifesto commitment?
Minister reply
We will absolutely respect licences that have been issued. We have no plans to revoke existing licences, but neither will we issue new licences to explore new fields.
Julia Lopez
Con
Hornchurch and Upminster
Question
The Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields could supply 8% of the UK’s gas needs. Will the Government look again at changing judicial review processes?
Minister reply
We will not give any indication on specific applications before they are submitted. The process to respond to the Supreme Court judgment will be in place when companies re-submit their applications.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
Is it not a fact that the court judgment has driven a hole through the growth strategy because every major infrastructure project in this country will be legally challengeable and could be turned down on the basis that it generates CO2?
Minister reply
The Court ruled that the previous Government made an unlawful decision by not taking into account the judgment of the Supreme Court. We are moving as quickly as possible to put in place a process that gives confidence to industry, allows applications for projects to come forward, and considers them on their individual merits.
Gregor Poynton
Lab
Livingston
Question
Does the Minister agree that supporting projects such as Rosebank and Jackdaw is entirely compatible with our drive towards a net zero economy? We will continue to need domestic oil and gas to 2050, and therefore we should maximise UK production since we can do so with the highest possible labour and environmental standards.
Minister reply
We are putting in place a robust and clear process for applications that are in line with what the Supreme Court ruled. We will not revoke existing licences, and oil and gas will play an incredibly important role in the UK for many years to come. The Government is supporting projects such as Rosebank and Jackdaw, which can be decided on their merits.
Stephen Flynn
SNP
Aberdeen South
Question
What certainty can he give us on when the Government expects to issue the updated environmental guidance?
Minister reply
We are moving as quickly as possible. Having built on what needed to be done about scope 3 emissions, we introduced the consultation and engaged with the industry for substantial responses. We will issue information about the process as quickly as possible after analysing the consultation responses.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
Question
Does he agree that it is thanks to our record-breaking investment in not one but two first-of-a-kind carbon capture projects that we are getting on with delivering the good jobs that our communities deserve?
Minister reply
Carbon capture is important, and we were delighted to put forward investment for track 1 projects after a protracted period under the previous Government. We remain supportive of the track 2 projects, particularly the Acorn cluster in Scotland, which may have an impact on areas such as Grangemouth in future.
John Cooper
Con
Dumfries and Galloway
Question
The Minister has talked long and loud about confidence in the industry, but disappearing investment does not engender any confidence. The 200,000 people employed in the oil and gas sector will look askance at GB Energy, which looks less like the second prize and more like the booby prize.
Minister reply
The £8.3 billion investment in Great British Energy is not welcomed by the Conservative party but will create jobs through supply chains. We are determined to build the industry of the future rather than bury our head in the sand, seeing thousands more jobs go.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
Does the Minister acknowledge the leadership role of the UK Government internationally and agree that such leadership is best shown by investing in sustainable green jobs rather than granting further unjustifiable permissions?
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend’s broader point about the important leadership role for the UK in building green industries of the future and on climate change. At COP29, the Secretary of State communicated the importance of leadership on this pressing issue.
Richard Baker
Lab
Glenrothes and Mid Fife
Question
Does the Minister agree that a workforce with skills honed in the North sea oil and gas sector will have an increasingly vital role in the renewables sector? Given the crucial role for GB Energy, headquartered in Aberdeen, in managing a fair and phased transition, is it not extraordinary that the Conservatives and the SNP have failed to support this proposal in this Parliament?
Minister reply
I agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of skills transferability and the recognition of offshore oil and gas workers' experiences in renewables. The Government has prioritised this through initiatives like the skills passport, which recognises that 90% of those skills are directly transferable.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
Question
Will the Minister outline the importance of Great British Energy in the planned transition to the jobs of the future?
Minister reply
The Government is committed to a fair and prosperous transition for workers in the North Sea industry, recognising that thousands of jobs have been lost. We are putting in place measures to ensure that those workers can find well-paid jobs in renewable industries, reflecting our duty as a Government.
Government Response
The Government's priority is a fair transition in the North Sea that recognises oil and gas' role, aligned with climate obligations. The Court ruled Rosebank and Jackdaw consents unlawful due to emissions oversight. Consultation on revised environmental guidance concluded; final guidance imminent. Resubmissions must account for scope 3 emissions per Supreme Court ruling. Government will resume decision-making when guidance is published. It's inappropriate to comment on specific projects until developers resubmit.
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