“If this amendment is successful the future of the North Sea will be put into serious jeopardy, placing at risk our indigenous energy supply and leaving us more reliant on imports. Hundreds of thousands of UK jobs and the country’s place as a global leader in offshore engineering and technology would then also be in peril. I therefore urge MPs from all parties to preserve the cross party support that the Wood Report has so far enjoyed and to ensure that the Infrastructure Bill is approved on Monday.”

Sir Robert Smith MP added his weight to the argument saying: “The oil and gas industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, a vast UK-wide supply chain and a vibrant export market. From subsea engineering to specialist skills training – the industry is a world leader in numerous fields.”

“The industry faced challenges before the fall in the price of oil. But the downturn means that the MER initiative needs to be enshrined in law as a matter of urgency.

“As we make the transition to renewable energy we will need gas as part of our energy mix. By supporting MER we can reduce our reliance on imported energy and high emission coal. We can also protect valuable jobs, continue to build on our highly diverse skills base and ensure that the export market remains anchored to the UK.”