Fears raised over BP's commitment

The cuts will mainly be made at BP 's headquarters in Aberdeen

BP's commitment to the North Sea has been questioned by an Aberdeen MSP following the oil giant's decision to cut about 350 jobs.

Aberdeen North MSP Brian Adam said he was to hold talks with the company early next week.

The cuts are expected to be mainly made among onshore staff based at BP's Aberdeen headquarters.

BP said the changes were necessary to secure its long term future in Aberdeen and the North Sea.

Mr Adam, whose constituency includes BP's Dyce base, said he was seeking assurances from the firm and that he believed Aberdeen was suffering because of financial problems across the wider BP group.

I rather think that the Aberdeen office is bearing the brunt of mistakes being made elsewhere Brian Adam Aberdeen North MSP

Mr Adam told BBC Scotland: "It is certainly very strange and extremely disappointing, especially for those folk who may no longer have a job in a few months.

"It may well be that there are problems within the management of BP but I suspect it is not out of Dyce.

"I rather think that the Aberdeen office is bearing the brunt of mistakes being made elsewhere."

BP, which earlier this week announced a massive fall in profits for the quarter to September despite rising oil prices, will soon move into a new headquarters just around the corner from its existing building.

Dave Blackwood, director of North Sea business at BP, said the plan will not be affected by the job cuts.

'Profit margins'

He said: "This won't affect out move into the new office, which will take place shortly after the New Year and we are looking forward to that.

"We wouldn't anticipate anyone will be actually leaving the organisation before the end of this year, so this is a process that fundamentally will run in the first quarter of next year."

Graham Tran, of the Unite Amicus Union, said he also had doubts about BP's commitment to the North Sea.

Mr Tran said: "They have sold a number of assets and quite rightly - so if they don't want them and they're not committed too them then sell them.

"Here again calls into question a commitment to the North Sea. Make no mistake about it, BP has been very good for the North Sea but the profit margins for a company of that size are no longer there."

Profits at BP were down to $3.88bn (£1.89bn) for the three months to the end of September from $6.98bn a year earlier, while oil and gas production for the period was 4% lower.