This year's referendum on Scottish
independence could damage investment, Michael Fallon, the U.K. Minister
of State for Energy said Monday
"My fear is that it will start to pause not simply investment
in energy, but also investment more generally," Mr. Fallon said, while
speaking at a conference at Chatham House.
Mr. Fallon added that the prospect of the referendum in
September raised a further question of how an independent Scotland would
afford substantial decommissioning payments for oil infrastructure in
the North Sea.
A poll published earlier in January by ScotCen Social Research
found most Scots would vote to stay in the United Kingdom, of which it
has been a member for over 300 years.