The weather centre employs 37 people

A proposal to centralise the service at the Met Office's headquarters in Exeter met stiff opposition from politicians and business leaders.

Defence Minister Don Touhig told MPs that his opinion had changed and he was now in favour of retaining some commercial forecasting in Aberdeen.

But he later said no decisions had been made and that nothing was ruled out.

Earlier this year Mr Touhig, the under-secretary of state with responsibility for the Met Office, condemned the way managers had handled the process and put the closure scheme on hold.

The must come down in favour of the retention of all the services and all of the staff Brian Adam SNP MSP

Orkney and Shetland Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael met Mr Touhig on Thursday.

Mr Carmichael said: "I am pleased that there appears to be further movement in the right direction.

"One example of what could lie ahead for us is the forecast recently produced by the Exeter office which warned of severe weather in the Northern Isles in areas above 2,500ft.

"That illustrates rather well the need to keep some local knowledge in weather forecasts."

Oil and fishing

There are no hills above 1,600ft in the Northern Isles.

The Aberdeen bureau, which employs 37 people, was one of six in Britain facing either closure or downsizing.

The proposal was condemned by leaders of the oil and fishing industries, who said they did not trust the super-computers forecasters wanted to use to predict North Sea conditions from Exeter.

Local politicians have lobbied to keep forecasting in Aberdeen

Unions and management met last month to discuss a compromise proposal under which some staff would remain at the weather station to offer tailored briefings to clients, although forecasting would still move to Exeter.

Scottish National Party MSP for Aberdeen North Brian Adam said: "In my opinion he must come down in favour of the retention of all the services and all of the staff that are currently based in Aberdeen.

"After all the Aberdeen operation has been hailed as a centre of excellence, praised for its local forecasting knowledge and makes a profit."

The consultation on the future of the Met Office will end next Tuesday.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Mr Touhig confirmed that he had met MPs to discuss a new option for the future of the service.

"The meeting was extremely useful and I heard some strong arguments, all of which will be considered," he said.