Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Kirsty Blackman Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd March 2016

(8 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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My hon. Friend makes an extremely good point. The United Kingdom is able to absorb the shocks of the volatile oil price, and take steps to ensure that our oil and gas sector is as strong as it can be, given the low oil prices.

Kirsty Blackman Portrait Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP)
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Will the Minister and his Front-Bench colleagues commit to taking action to ensure that companies in the oil and gas sector have appropriate access to finance at this time?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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The Government do all they can to support businesses the length and breadth of the United Kingdom in all sectors. My point is that we are able to take action and support the oil and gas sector because we are the United Kingdom. Had Scotland become independent, it would be facing a very substantial loss of revenue and have great difficulties absorbing that.