Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions he has had with (a) trades unions and (b) Oil and Gas UK on employment levels in the offshore energy sector.

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meet with Oil and Gas UK and senior representatives from the oil and gas industry on 15^th January in Aberdeen and tasked Dr Andy Samuel to lead an urgent commission to identify risks and what further measures might be taken by Government and industry to mitigate them. I convened PILOT on 13 January, including Trade Unions, Dr Samuel and industry representatives.

Dr Samuel and DECC officials also participated in the Jobs Taskforce which was held in Aberdeen on the 28 January and I will be visiting Aberdeen on 5 February.