Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Chancellor John Healey during a visit to Shell UK's St Fergus Gas Terminal in AberdeenshireImage source, PA Media
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Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Chancellor John Healey visited the St Fergus Gas Terminal

ByJames Cook, Scotland editor and Graeme Esson, BBC ScotlandUpdated 31 minutes ago

The UK government has approved production from the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea amid intense debate about the project's environmental and economic impact.

Ministers said the first gas could be produced by the end of this month, helping heat millions of homes, and also announced the creation of a new energy wealth fund.