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Jackie Baillie S5M-00448 That the Parliament notes recent publications, including the EY Scottish ITEM Club, which indicate that Scotland’s economy faces many challenges in the coming year, with GDP growth forecasts downgraded; further notes, in particular, the decline in the oil and gas industry, with reported jobs losses of more than 120,000 since 2014, as reported by Oil & Gas UK recently, alongside the Bank of Scotland oil and gas sector report that shows that a third of businesses in the oil and gas industry plan to cut jobs further during 2016, showing the scale of the challenge; welcomes the Scottish Government’s Transition Training Fund but notes that it has been reported that it has helped only 91 people, and calls on all parties in the Parliament to work together to support the oil and gas industry and its workforce and for action to be taken to support the industry over the short, medium and long term. Keith Brown S5M-00448.3 As an amendment to motion S5M-00448 in the name of Jackie Baillie (The Economy), leave out from “indicate” to end and insert "recognises that the Scottish economy, and the oil and gas sector in particular, is facing many external challenges though will continue to grow this year, despite the impact of lower oil prices on the oil and gas sector, which has revised up its growth forecast for 2017, as the negative impact of the oil price fades and the pace of expansion picks up; acknowledges the EY Attractiveness Survey, which showed that Scotland attracted more foreign direct investment projects than any part of the UK outside London last year and has “been resilient in managing to weather the oil and gas price volatility storm whilst also being able to flourish in other sectors”; recognises the measures that the Scottish Government is taking to support workers and companies affected by falling oil prices and the wider slowdown in the global economy, including the Energy Jobs Taskforce, which has supported 8,800 individuals and over 100 employers to help those affected move forward into new employment, training or education; recognises that the Bank of Scotland oil and gas sector report provides clear evidence that there are still opportunities in the North Sea, and finds that more than half of companies believe that the UK Government must bring forward further support for exploration activity.” Murdo Fraser S5M-00448.1 As an amendment to motion S5M-00448 in the name of Jackie Baillie (The Economy), after "people" insert “; further welcomes the fiscal changes that have been made by the UK Government to support the industry; notes that the Bank of Scotland report finds that 52% of large companies in the sector have an interest in diversifying into onshore gas production, but regrets that the Scottish Government’s current moratorium prevents these opportunities being developed".
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