Commenting on the ongoing industrial dispute at Grangemouth, Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary, Michael Moore said:

"The BP plan to close the pipeline shows that the situation has escalated since Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks made his ill-conceived comments this morning.

"Scotland's rural communities are already facing difficulties due to the strike, and the threat of wider fuel disruption is completely unacceptable.

"It is now essential that the UK Government spells out its contingency plans for dealing with this dispute, given the trade union's intention to increase the scale of their action if no resolution is reached.

"If we are to have confidence in the Government's position, ministers must now make it clear how they will avoid the consequences of this damaging dispute.

"The Government should have learned from the fuel shock of 2000 the importance of providing clarity and certainty to reassure the public."