During a debate in the Scottish Parliament on the future of the Oil and Gas industry Conservative Energy Spokesman Murdo Fraser MSP called on the Scottish Government to get back to publishing their statistical bulletin on the industry.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Murdo Fraser asked why the Scottish Government oil and gas bulletins which appeared before the referendum when the barrel price was high have ceased.
It comes as Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) figures published tomorrow are expected to show just how damaging the impact of a falling oil price has had on Scotland’s public finances.
Murdo gave his support to the Aberdeen City Region Deal, which will be worth around £2.9 billion over 20 years, as an example of positive action being taken to help the area.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP and Scottish Conservative energy spokesman Murdo Fraser said:
“Everyone remembers Alex Salmond saying there was ‘little doubt’ Scotland was on the cusp of another oil boom.
“It’s clear now he was talking out of a hole in his head, but what happened to the famous oil and gas statistical bulletins which came out with such regularity prior to the referendum?
“Is the reason we no longer see them because the figures are so dismal the SNP is afraid to publish them?
“Today Scotland will be breathing a sigh of relief that we didn’t vote Yes based on the false promise of a second oil boom.
“Thankfully, we didn’t go for a financial model which assumed a minimum oil price of $110 a barrel, when today the price is barely half that.
“The Scottish people had the sense to vote to remain part of the UK and not gamble their future on the say-so of Mr Salmond and his colleagues.
“There is more to be done by everyone, including both the Scottish and UK governments.
“One example of something that is happening is the Aberdeen City Region Deal, which will be worth around £2.9 billion over 20 years, with proposals for transformational investment in transport infrastructure, expansion in housing and city centre regeneration.
“We back the deal, and if the Scottish Government is looking to do more than just sit on its hands and blame Westminster, then it should welcome it too.”