Chamber and committees

Thank you, minister.

I question the statement that

“no final decision ... has been made”.

The evidence that we heard from Ineos and Petroineos sounded very much to be a case of “This is the decision.” The final decision might be about when it happens, but there seemed to be no doubt that that is the plan for Petroineos, and that it intends to close the refinery.

We welcome the fact that you are going to the future industry board tomorrow. One of our recommendations in the report was that the UK Government should be involved in discussions around the future industry board. Will you update the committee on discussions that you are having with the Scottish Government? I think that you spoke to it most recently on 29 November. Have any discussions taken place since then?

Is it possible for broadcasting to adjust the volume? I will try to speak up.

My understanding is that your most recent meeting with the Scottish Government to discuss the future of Grangemouth was on 29 November. Have any discussions taken place since then?

The minister has limited time this morning, so I ask members to be more direct in their questions; if the minister could provide briefer answers, that would allow everybody to come in. I will allow Maggie Chapman a supplementary question on employment before I move to Evelyn Tweed.

We can hear you.

The announcement broke in the newspapers on 23 November. Is it fair to say that the UK Government and the Scottish Government were aware for a length of time, through conversations that they were having with Petroineos, that the closure of the refinery was coming at some near point in the future?

Briefly.

Thank you. Murdo Fraser, do you wish to ask a question?

Okay, thank you. That brings us to the end of the evidence session. Thank you, minister, for joining us this morning.

Our next item of business is an evidence session on Petroineos Grangemouth. In November, it was reported that the oil refinery at Grangemouth would be transitioned to a fuels import terminal, possibly as early as spring 2025. Media reports suggested a net loss of up to 400 jobs. We have questions about the future of the site as a key employer and driver of economic activity in the area, as well as Scotland’s and the United Kingdom’s energy and industrial strategies.

Last year, the committee held an inquiry into a just transition for the Grangemouth area. We visited the Ineos site but, at that time, we were not made aware of those plans. On 13 December, the committee took evidence from Ineos Grangemouth, Petroineos Manufacturing Scotland Ltd and the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy. This meeting is an opportunity to discuss with the UK Government the announcement on the site’s future.

I welcome Graham Stuart MP, who is Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero in the UK Government. I ask members and witnesses to keep their questions and answers as concise as possible. I invite the minister to make a short opening statement.

I think that we are having difficulty with the broadcast at this point.

Thank you. I will bring in Colin Smyth, who will be followed by Evelyn Tweed. I ask members to speak up, as that will assist the minister to hear the questions.