WARM WORDS FOR NORTH SEA INDUSTRY MUST BE BACKED UP BY ACTION - LOCAL MP

12.00.00am GMT Wed 9th Dec 2009

Local MP Sir Robert Smith has welcomed changes to the North Sea fiscal regime outlined by the Chancellor in today's pre-budget report (PBR), but warned that there is still more to do to ensure the prosperity of the offshore industry.

Sir Robert commented:

"These changes are a welcome move and this is certainly a step in the right direction. This field allowance initially applied to just one field in the entirety of the UK. However, we are still missing the major incentive to develop existing fields to their full potential."

Commenting on the West of Shetland talks, The West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP added:

"Warm words on the fields west of Shetland need to be backed up by tangible action. This is still just talk and is indicative of the lack of urgency shown by the government."

• The full PBR is available online at: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/news/nol/shared/spl/hi/uk_politics/09/budget/09_12_09budget_document.pdf