Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will make it his policy to include trade unions representing the offshore workforce in the North Sea Taskforce to be led by the Oil and Gas Authority.

We have asked Dr Samuel, Chief Executive designate of the Oil and Gas Authority to lead an urgent commission to identify risks from the low oil price and what further measures might be taken by Government and industry to mitigate them, Dr Samuel will report back by the end of February.

In the course of this work, Dr Samuel will be taking views from a wide range of interested parties including through his attendance at the Energy Jobs Taskforce in which government, agencies, trade unions and industry are participating.