Licences for new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea should be considered on a case-by-case basis, SNP energy minister Gillian Martin has stated.
The Press & Journal says the Aberdeenshire East MSP called on both Labour and the Conservatives to take a "nuanced" approach to the future of the North Sea.
Her comments come after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his Government would grant scores of new exploration licences - a move which was heavily criticised by climate campaigners.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said his party would not allow any new licences if he wins the next election.
Ms Martin said neither approach was correct, with government required to reduce the burning of fossil fuels while at the same time ensuring energy security.
Justification
She said: "We (the Scottish Government) have consistently said that we feel that the UK Government should be awarding licences on a case-by-case basis, and that there has to be a justification for the awarding of those licences based on a climate-compatibility checkpoint."
The SNP's draft energy strategy, published in January, set out the party's position that there should be a presumption against new oil and gas licences.
It means new exploration would be opposed unless companies could prove that doing so would not negatively affect efforts to limit global warming. It would also have to demonstrated as beneficial for energy security and result in cheaper energy costs for consumers.
But powers over oil and gas licencing remain reserved to Westminster, and such a move by the Scottish Government would merely be symbolic.
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