Government Relations
All Party Parliamentary Group
Introduction
Oil & Gas UK is pleased to support the work of the British Offshore Oil and Gas Industry All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). Launched in April 1999, the Group was established by Bob Blizzard - Labour MP for Waveney, Conservative Peer – Lord Fraser of Carmyllie and Sir Robert Smith – Liberal Democrat MP for Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine. Dame Anne Begg, the Labour MP for Aberdeen South was elected as the Chairman in June 2007. The Group has around 80 members.
The APPG seeks to provide a dedicated parliamentary focus for issues relating to and impacting on the British offshore oil and gas industry and the 440,000 jobs that depend on the sector.
The Group organises:
- Topical meetings with Ministers and key industry spokespeople
- Regular written briefings
- Visits to sites of interest, including offshore platforms
- An annual Parliamentary reception for MPs, Peers and key industry leaders
Officers
The Group is chaired by Dame Anne Begg MP. The Vice Chairmen are Lord Fraser of Carmyllie QC, Sir Robert Smith MP and Mike Weir MP. The Treasurer is Frank Doran MP and the Hon Secretary is Michael Connarty MP.
More information
More information about the Group can be requested from Andrew Bassett at Oil & Gas UK on abassett@oilandgasuk.co.uk or 020 7802 2400. The Group is also listed on the UK’s Parliament website here.
Meetings
Most recently the group met on 11 Jan 2012. Malcolm Webb, CEO of Oil & Gas UK briefed the group on industry’s concerns regarding the European Commission’s proposed new Regulation on Offshore Safety.
The APPG also met on 6 Dec for a presentation on skills shortages in the industry with Gillian Black of OPITO. In addition the group met on 30 Nov to discuss Energy Security of Supply with Chris Hunt of UKPIA and David Odling of Oil & Gas UK addressing attendees and highlighting, amongst other issues, the continued importance of UKCS production
