Last week, the UK Government announced which Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) site would be supported for operation by the mid-2020s.
Although disappointing that the Scottish Cluster did not make the first cut in this sequencing round, the high quality of the bid means that the St Fergus based Acorn CCS and Hydrogen Project has been selected as the first reserve cluster.
If one of the select clusters doesn’t progress for some reason, Acorn will replace it.
It also puts Acorn on the inside track for phase two.
Despite misleading reports in the media and by the SNP, this is NOT the end of the story for Acorn and it certainly does not mean that the UK Government has abandoned it.
Quite the contrary.
The Acorn Project will still play a key role to help meet the UK's ambitious CCUS goals to capture 20-30 megatonnes of carbon per year by 2030.
The UK Government has invested £31 million in the project and I continue to work with the project leadership to help identify the support they will need for ongoing development and planning as the reserve cluster.
CCUS is part of the North Sea Transition Deal that was negotiated between the UK Government and the oil and gas industry which is expected to attract at least £16 billion of private investment to the sector as it continues to play a key role in the energy transition to net zero.
Last week also saw the news that NHS Grampian had called for British military assistance to deal with staff shortages.
Whether it is access to GP appointments or to Minor Injury Units, or waiting times for ambulances, my constituents are all too aware of problems with our local health service.
Everyone recognises our fantastic healthcare workers but frankly, there’s just not enough of them in rural areas such as ours!
There are online alternatives to face to face GP visits, but awareness and ease of access is low – not to mention dependent on having a decent internet connection!
The UK Government has a plan to improve NHS and Social Care in England which, thanks to the Barnett formula, means our NHS in Scotland stands to receive £1.1bn a year over three years, despite the efforts of the SNP who voted against this money for Scotland’s health service!
The UK Government recognises that the healthcare issues faced right across the country, require not just more funding but also significant reform.
When the Scottish Government receives this funding, I hope they will also make the necessary reforms for health care to work across Scotland – especially in rural areas.
As I write this, the threat level for MPs has been raised from ‘moderate’ to ‘substantial’, in the wake of the murder of my colleague and friend, Sir David Amess.
MPs, MSPs, Councillors – and other public service workers – need to be safe, but we also need to be accessible.
Therefore, my staff (whose safety must also be considered) and I are reviewing our procedures, but I am determined to continue engaging with communities and constituents across Banff and Buchan.
I will remain available for face-to-face surgeries – something I have returned to in recent months having previously been limited to only virtual engagement during the pandemic. Appointments can be made by contacting my office on david.duguid.mp@parliament.uk or by calling 01261 818744.