§ 2. Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will take steps to ensure that all rights granted by a landward petroleum licence cannot be assigned, in any way, to parties other than the licensee.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Energy (Mr. Hamish Gray)All landward petroleum licences contain provisions which prohibit the licensee from assigning his licence rights without my prior consent. I do not propose to make any changes to these arrangements.
§ Dr. MarshallIs the Minister of State aware that at present licence rights are passed on, and that in addition third companies come in and start exploring with the consent of a licensee, so that in some cases it is possible for a land occupier to be pestered by several different companies in quick succession? Would not it be more systematic and orderly if it were possible to make the licences completely exclusive, so that if the licensee wished to give up a licence he had to return it to the Secretary of State?
§ Mr. GrayI think that the hon. Gentleman refers to a specific case in his constituency, about which we have had correspondence. My Department, having been notified in advance of the wish of one company to extend its survey into the area of the licence held by the other company and of the latter's agreement to the proposal, was satisfied that the proposal made technical sense, in that it was likely to lead to improved evaluation of the geological structure of the general area. But if the hon. Gentleman has any further points that he would like to discuss with me in regard to that case, I shall be happy to meet him.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesWill it be possible to discuss this matter when the Government ask the House to approve forcing the British Gas Corporation to give up its gasoil licence in Dorset?
§ Mr. GrayI do not think that that question has a direct relationship to the question that I have just answered. There is no doubt that a suitable opportunity for the right hon. Gentleman to make his point will arise.