Written questions by Leishman.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the ongoing operation of the Grangemouth Oil Refinery.

It is deeply disappointing that Petroineos confirmed its previous decision to close the oil refining operation at Grangemouth. We stand with the workers at this difficult time and worked closely with the Scottish Government to announce a joint £100 million investment plan to support the Falkirk and Grangemouth community. Grangemouth is important to the fuel supply of Scotland, and Petroineos will now convert the refinery into an import terminal to continue to provide a secure and flexible fuel supply. Alongside the Scottish Government, we have also invested £1.5 million into Project Willow to find a viable long-term future for the site in clean energy. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the changes to the level of emissions from shipping.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of closing (a) Grangemouth refinery and (b) Finnart terminal on changes to the level of emissions from shipping arising from those closures.

It is deeply disappointing that Petroineos confirmed its previous decision to close the oil refining operation at Grangemouth. We stand with the workers at this difficult time and worked closely with the Scottish Government to announce a joint £100 million investment plan to support the Falkirk and Grangemouth community. Grangemouth is important to the fuel supply of Scotland, and Petroineos will now convert the refinery into an import terminal to continue to provide a secure and flexible fuel supply. Alongside the Scottish Government, we have also invested £1.5 million into Project Willow to find a viable long-term future for the site in clean energy. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the changes to the level of emissions from shipping.

Whether the Grangemouth Oil Refinery is a site of national strategic importance.

It is deeply disappointing that Petroineos confirmed its previous decision to close the oil refining operation at Grangemouth. We stand with the workers at this difficult time and worked closely with the Scottish Government to announce a joint £100 million investment plan to support the Falkirk and Grangemouth community. Grangemouth is important to the fuel supply of Scotland, and Petroineos will now convert the refinery into an import terminal to continue to provide a secure and flexible fuel supply. Alongside the Scottish Government, we have also invested £1.5 million into Project Willow to find a viable long-term future for the site in clean energy. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the changes to the level of emissions from shipping.

Whether (a) he and (b) his Department has held discussions with (i) PetroChina and (ii) INEOS on the Grangemouth oil refinery since the general election.

As per my answer of 8 October, since taking office, the Secretary of State and I have taken joint action with the Scottish Government to urgently engage with the company and its shareholders. This included discussions with PetroChina and INEOS, the shareholders.