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Based on fresh findings, cabinet members engaged with delegates from the petroleum industry more than 500 times during their first year in power – amounting to two times each working day.

Significant Increase Compared to Previous Administration

The analysis found that oil industry representatives were participating in 48% extra ministerial meetings under the existing leadership's opening year relative to the previous year.

Government Defense

The government supported the meetings, asserting that ministers held meetings with a wide range of delegates from "power industry, labor organizations and community groups to drive forward our sustainable energy major project".

Growing Concerns About Sector Pressure

However, the findings have raised concern among observers about the scope of the oil and gas sector's sway over government at a period when ministers are attempting to lower bills and move to a more sustainable power framework.

Key Findings

The research, which draws from the ministerial public documentation of ministerial meetings, additionally revealed:

• Representatives at the Net Zero Ministry held meetings with oil industry representatives 274 times, with corporate delegates attending almost a quarter of meetings.

• The secretary for energy and climate change held discussions with petroleum sector advocates 250 times – with one-third of every engagement including sector representatives.

• Throughout the same period government representatives held meetings with worker group agents 61 times.

• Multiple prominent petroleum firms held discussions with ministers 100 times combined.

• Petroleum sector advocates participated in almost every official session about the windfall tax, a temporary tax on the "extraordinary profits" of offshore oil and gas companies.

Official Responses

A Green party MP commented: "Rather than heeding scientists, communities impacted by environmental disasters, or parents eager to guarantee a secure tomorrow for their future generations, this government is prioritising corporate representatives and earnings for oil and gas giants."

Ministerial Response

Ministers insisted the discoveries were "inaccurate", stating many of the companies listed also had renewable energy projects and that these topics were typically the primary subject of the discussions.

"Our main focus is a equitable, systematic and successful change in the offshore region in line with our ecological and statutory obligations, and we are working with the sector to preserve current and future generations of quality employment."

Wider Perspective

Multiple leading fossil fuel corporations have been criticised for slashing their green funding in recent times amid a global pushback against climate action.

A campaigns manager from an environmental law organization stated: "Officials pledged a government of service, but that shouldn't involve bowing the knee to businesses making money out of climate catastrophe. It's time to stop cosying up to climate-damaging entities and put people first."