Prime Minister David Cameron visited Aberdeen last Thursday, where he announced a package worth £250 million to support the North Sea oil industry, as the first stage of an infrastructure investment for the city.

He promised a new oil and gas technology centre for the city to fund future research, including research into innovative ways to extract oil and gas.

Speaking in Parliament the previous day, the PM told MPs: “I do recognise the seriousness of the situation; the oil price decline is the longest in 20 years and is causing real difficulties for the North Sea. I am determined that we build a bridge to the future for all those involved in the oil and gas sector.”

Mr Cameron’s visit to Aberdeen coincided with the first meeting of a new taskforce that has been set up to deal with the difficulties faced by the North Sea oil industry. Chaired by Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, it includes Business Minister Anna Soubry and Scottish Secretary David Mundell.

Companies involved in the sector have called for tax changes in the spring Budget. They are looking for further cuts to petroleum revenue tax, which was last year reduced from 50% to 35%, and in the 20% supplementary charge levied on oil and gas producers.

Many of them also want the Chancellor of the Exchequer to alter the rules concerning who is responsible for the cost of decommissioning oil platforms when they come to the end of their working life.

Some argue that the current rules make any business that has ever owned a particular platform potentially liable for its dismantling, thereby discouraging firms from buying up ageing assets and investing in them.