§ 3. Mr. Haywardasked the Secretary of State for Energy if there has been an increase since 1979 in onshore appraisal well drilling.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThere were no appraisal wells drilled onshore during 1979 and 1980, but during 1981, 1982, and the first 11 months of 1983, one, four and six wells have been drilled respectively.
§ Mr. HaywardTo what extent does onshore drilling give opportunities to smaller oil companies as against the larger established companies, which undertake much of the drilling in the North sea?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithMy hon. Friend is correct to assume that the cost of drilling onshore is very much less than that of drilling offshore. There is no doubt that the opportunity to carry out these activities onshore is a good way of getting some of the smaller British companies into the industry.