Letters / The necessary clout
Oil and gas – our gateway to prosperity or phrases like it are bandied about by politicians, commentators and lobbyists from a wide variety of standpoints.
What is beyond doubt is that it forms a large part of Scotland’s industrial base – for the moment. What is also beyond doubt is that most of the major players in the industry are owned and based either in the UK or in the USA and Canada.
A handful are listed as Scottish companies engaged in the sector and are headquartered in Scotland, mainly Aberdeen. Of these a few are listed on the London Stock Exchange and others are owned by overseas venture capitalists or petroleum majors.
Only this week a joint conference is being held in Aberdeen and Houston, Texas, with a list of participating companies and organisations that many outside the industry would struggle to recognise, which emphasises the international nature and diversity of the business.
It is very much in the public interest to be in a commanding position to influence the governance, regulation and fiscal regime in relation to the oil industry and its infrastructure in our waters and onshore.
All of which begs the question – how best do we do that?
Do we continue with an established system with the necessary clout that comes with being part of a United Kingdom, which has existing access to national and worldwide multiple resources – or do we go down the separatist road and embark on an entirely new and unproven system; many of its functions a smaller scale replication of those already successfully employed ‘next door’ but without the extensive solid foundations of expertise, resource and worldwide network of consular and industrial contacts?
Recent tragic events on our doorstep highlight the value of having access to a national air accident investigation establishment, an organisation the funding and governance of which we have input into through the democratic process.
The canny folk in the oil reliant north-east of Scotland, once considered to be SNP heartland, are in no doubt as to which is the best way to go!
In a recent opinion poll reported in the Aberdeen Press and Journal an increasing and substantial majority is in favour of remaining in the United Kingdom.
They agree that we are indeed Better Together. We are in no doubt too that they are right.
Vote NO in the referendum.
George Jacobson
Exnaboe
Virkie
Theo Nicolson
North Road
Lerwick
Andrina Tulloch
Salamander
Quarff
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