National Coal Board (North Sea Exploitation)

HC Deb 25 January 1966 vol 723 c23

38. Mr. Peyton

asked the Minister of Power if he will give the terms of the agreements giving options to the National Coal Board to participate in the exploitation of the North Sea.

Mr. Frederick Lee

No, Sir; these are commercial arrangements which it would not be appropriate for me to disclose.

Mr. Peyton

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is incontestably in the national interest that rapid progress should be made here and that if there should be delay to make even a short-term agreement it will be a serious discouragement to the exploitation of what we all hope is a most important national asset?

Mr. Lee

I thoroughly agree with the hon. Gentleman's comments, and I have no reason to suppose that there will be any delay.