Blow for SNP as majority of North Sea oil and gas workers believe independence won’t improve industry

The results of a survey of 1000 North Sea oil and gas workers today has found that 82% don’t believe the next Government, of whichever party, following the General Election will do enough to solve the current crisis.

The survey results were released by Oilandgaspeople.com, the world’s leading oil and gas jobs board, in its pre-election State of the Industry report.

And as a blow to Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP ahead of the election, 65% of North Sea oil and gas workers didn’t believe an independent Scotland would do more for securing the future of the North Sea oil and gas industry than the UK Government.

However, 56% did believe that more power over North Sea oil and gas should be devolved to Aberdeen.

The respondents to the survey believed that the Government should reduce taxes even more in order to incentivise the industry to invest, explore and stop job losses.

On specific policy proposals, the oil and gas workers responding to the survey said the Government should prioritise incentives to invest more than £1.5 billion into developing the Atlantic Margins, where seismic surveys have shown the potential for large reserves of oil and gas.

Specifically, 47% said the Government should give companies who explore in the Atlantic Margins 100% tax breaks; while 60% believe that the crisis in the industry is so severe that the Government should set up a state owned company in order to boost exploration in the Atlantic Margins in order to boost jobs.

Kevin Forbes, Chief Executive of Oil and Gas People, commented:

“The survey from our State of the Industry report shows that oil and gas workers are losing confidence in all political parties to prioritise and fix the issues in the industry.”

“Yet they believe they can be fixed. The price of oil may have dropped considerably which has caused great pain, but with the right policies, efficiencies, incentives and investment the industry it can get back on feet and prosper.”

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