Thank you. That concludes general questions. The next item of business is First Minister's

questions. And at question number one, I call Russell Finley.

Thank you, President. Scotland's only oil refinery ceased operations this week.

Hundreds of workers at Grangemouth have lost their jobs and face an uncertain future.

Scotland has vast oil reserves, but we will now need to import all of our petrol, diesel and other fuels. This is the price of the SNP and Labour's hostility towards oil and gas.

So before more damage is done, will John Swinney drop his government's presumption

against new oil and gas exploration?

First Minister

The first thing I want to say is to express

my support and solidarity with all those in the Grangemouth workforce who face

the prospect of losing their employment as a consequence of the decision by Petroinios

to stop refining at the refinery at Grangemouth. That is a decision that the company has come to, as Mr.

Finley will know from what I have said before. I judge that decision to be premature because

I think there is an ongoing need for refining activity.

Indeed, refining activity will take place in other parts of the United Kingdom, despite

the issues that are faced at Grangemouth.

So what the Scottish Government will do is that we will work closely with the workforce,

we have done that with Unite the Union, we will support the individuals that are affected,

we will take forward the work that has been the source of collaboration between ourselves

and the United Kingdom Government

and Petro Ineos on alternative business ideas to develop the Grangemouth site as a site

that can contribute to the Government's net zero agenda. And of course, an early decision on the

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