An oil fund for Scotland?

[ATT]

Alec Salmond has suggested an oil fund and looking at the benefits of such funds put in place in other countries and indeed even states within countries it seems like very wise idea.
Shetland has managed to secure it's own oil fund and the benefits have been huge.

[GETUPTA SINGH]

Alex Salmond is a opportunist and a fake 'nationalist'. This is only the first step towards the scots claiming the north sea oil for themselves. Shetland i might add is NOT seeking independance.

[ATT]

Thanks to the BRITISH government it would be very easy for the Scots to "claim the North Sea oil for themselves".

In the 1970's when Scotland had a referendum on the union the UK government understandably got a little nervous.

At the same time there was also a large gas field discovered off the coast of Newcastle and it was believed that most of the oil would be found further south.

It was in an attempt to ensure England did not lose this oil that the UK government quickly recategorised the North Sea from being UK waters to being Scottish and English waters.

So yes the vast majority of North Sea oil is infact in Scottish waters already thanks to the UK government.

Besides if Scotland ever decided to break away anyone who can read a map can see that North Sea oil in the main is off the coast off Scotland.

It is interesting though how the "UK" government looks out for England whenever there is a threat.

[pauli007001]

Thanks to the BRITISH government it would be very easy for the Scots to "claim the North Sea oil for themselves".

In the 1970's when Scotland had a referendum on the union the UK government understandably got a little nervous.

At the same time there was also a large gas field discovered off the coast of Newcastle and it was believed that most of the oil would be found further south.

It was in an attempt to ensure England did not lose this oil that the UK government quickly recategorised the North Sea from being UK waters to being Scottish and English waters.

So yes the vast majority of North Sea oil is infact in Scottish waters already thanks to the UK government.

Besides if Scotland ever decided to break away anyone who can read a map can see that North Sea oil in the main is off the coast off Scotland.

It is interesting though how the "UK" government looks out for England whenever there is a threat.

I do in fact agree exepting one point,The UK government only look after themselves,the rest of us it seems(welsh,Scottish and English)are mere proles to feather their nest!
Causing division between us is a tactic of the stalinist regime we have today!We can have an independant Scotland,Wales and England without politically inspired hatred!But sponsoring and encouraging division and hatred seems to be the way of the polititian in the modern era UK.Perhaps this is due to EU interference,United we stand.....etc etc!Good luck mate!:)

[UKscotia]

In International maritime terms , there is no such a thing as Scottish Waters , it's called British Waters. Oil extracted from underneath these waters in the North Sea is for a global market and for British domestic usage. Your 30 year arguement regarding the Westminster Government's 'tax-take' simply doesn't hold water. Before the 1999 referendum on Devolution , it was agreed legally that this tax revenue would be a 'reserved power'. Now that the NATS have got minimum power in Holyrood under devolution , they are just playing games. Oil production has passed it's peak now , what will you do for revenue after it's gone?

[ATT]

Oil production has passed it's peak now , what will you do for revenue after it's gone?

Perhaps but the laws of supply and demand dictate that the value of oil will only continue to soar so perhaps in terms of monetary value there is more to be made out of the North Sea in future than has been made up till now.

BP don't seem to worried about peak oil, they just spent millions on new headquarters in Aberdeen.

Other than oil, let's see Tourism, whisky, forestry, electricity from renewables, renewable energy technologies (of which we are at the forefront), medical science/pharmaceuticals, oh I could go on.

And let's remember the population of Scotland is just 5 million so it looks as if we will be OK in looking after ourselves.

The argument I make for oil is certainly not because it is the only thing on which to base independence as you can see. It is more because, as we all know fine, whoever has oil has power, immense wealth and the ability to be self-sufficient regarding energy.

[UKscotia]

There must be a pre-requisite to belong to the SNP..... and that's a thing called 'Arrogance'. Every one of it's 'elected' members come over as just that.
They seem to exist just to pick political fights with our Westminster Parliament.
"Opportunists par excellence"

[Borderscot]

There must be a pre-requisite to belong to the SNP..... and that's a thing called 'Arrogance'. Every one of it's 'elected' members come over as just that.
They seem to exist just to pick political fights with our Westminster Parliament.
"Opportunists par excellence"

While I agree Alex Salmond is arrogant, I think he realizes that the Labour Party especially in Scotland have become a laughing stock and they themselves provide Salmond with plenty of ammunition which he is only too keen to use to his advantage.

There is no chance of an Oil Fund for Scotland and why should there be. Salmond thinks he is in a win-win situation because if he does not get what he wants he will try and say that Scotland are being short changed. Just wait and see the row he intends to make if the Barnett formula is altered. Brown knows that he dare not act over this measure because it would be an open opportunity for Salmond to create trouble.

[Expounder]

There must be a pre-requisite to belong to the SNP..... and that's a thing called 'Arrogance'. Every one of it's 'elected' members come over as just that.
They seem to exist just to pick political fights with our Westminster Parliament.
"Opportunists par excellence"

I think that you missed out smug in your decription of Salmond he's always got a "cat's got the milk" smug grin on his countenance.:)

[ATT]

Wow you guys must be sore about the SNP's success since you can only pick on someone's personal appearance......Scottish Labour have also been caught on the back foot too and similarly don't know what to do either.


Whatever the SNP are doing, it appears to be what the people want!

[pauli007001]

Wow you guys must be sore about the SNP's success since you can only pick on someone's personal appearance......Scottish Labour have also been caught on the back foot too and similarly don't know what to do either.


Whatever the SNP are doing, it appears to be what the people want!
And if its what the people want it should be so,it called democracy!
A concept that NULAB dont understand!

[higginm]

In reply to "In International maritime terms , there is no such a thing as Scottish Waters" by UKScotia.

State your evidence, or you're wrong.

In actual fact the Continental Shelf Act 1964 and the Continental Shelf (Jurisdiction) Order 1968 defines the UK North Sea maritime area to the north of latitude 55 degrees north as being under the jurisdiction of Scots Law.

http://www.un.org/Depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/PDFFILES/GBR_1968_Order892.pdf