§ 32. Mr. Whitakerasked the Minister of Power whether he will seek to secure the benefits of the North Sea gas field for the nation by introducing legislation to take it into public ownership.
§ Mr. MarshNo, Sir. I refer my hon. Friend to the Answers given on 1st December, 1964 and 6th April, 1965.
§ Mr. WhitakerSince God gave the land to the people and since the steel industry will, we hope, shortly be returned to them, how can my hon. Friend differentiate between the sea bed and natural gas?
§ Mr. MarshAt least half of the areas licensed will revert to the Crown after the initial licence period of six years. The terms and conditions of further exploration in these areas can be decided at that time. This gas can be sold to the Gas Council only with the agreement of the Minister, and I think that it would be undesirable, from the point of view of the nationalised industries—even if it were physically possible for them to take on this job—to leave it solely to them.