Your article on the North Sea oil and gas industry shows that, with the creditable exception of Lerwick, we are trailing behind our competitors in securing the decommissioning work in our waters (Breaking good ...
for Scotland, Business, February 22).
Napier University's Prof Alf Baird points out that other countries "have maritime policies which make ports the engines of their economies" and urges the Scottish Government to institute such a policy here.
Licensing, decommissioning and most other aspects of maritime policy are currently controlled by the UK, which has followed a policy of maximising short-term cash income. Even land-locked EU states such as Luxembourg and Austria have more control of our waters than we have.
However, Scotland will gain some powers if the Smith report is implemented in full, and more if the SNP gains a large number of seats in May's General Election. David Cameron is unlikely to get the sweeping changes he wants in the EU to placate the Ukip lobby, but it would be wise of the EU to make some concessions to the widespread demand for greater flexibility - under the banner of "subsidiarity".
To get the maximum UK oil and gas production the UK Government will have to cut total tax take from 80% to no more than 50%. The extension of life for these fields should give time, if we adopt an urgent policy, to get our house in order.
John Smart
Lossiemouth
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