In his spring Budget, Chancellor George Osborne promised greater certainty on tax relief for decommissioning old platforms as well as new tax breaks on small and deepwater fields.

The move was welcomed by Oil & Gas UK, the industry's representative body, as a boost to jobs but it was denounced by green campaigners as shocking because it could enable companies to drill new wells in waters off Scotland.

Chloe Smith, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said: "This is great news for jobs not just in the North Sea but across the UK."