HL Deb 02 July 1973 vol 344 c9
THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to offer a new round of licences for offshore exploration for hydrocarbons and whether they intend to offer licences over areas West of the Scottish mainland and islands.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, the Government have no immediate plans for a new round of offshore licensing. The areas to be offered in any future round will be decided at the time.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, could the noble Lord say, further to that, whether there has been a delay in making the next round of licences available inasmuch as it was widely expected there might be a round issued during this summer?

LORD DRUMALBYN

No, my Lords; there has been no delay, and it is not intended that the next round will take place in 1973.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, would my noble friend agree that the spacing out of licensing may be a very important factor in regard to getting British industry involved in the exploration and development activity and that, whether or not the licences should be widely spaced or narrowly spaced, there is a consideration here which is relevant? Is this being taken into account?

LORD DRUMALBYN

Yes, my Lords; the noble Earl is quite right. It is very much being taken into consideration, as indeed is the fact that the obligations to drill remaining from the last round are still considerable: about 200 wells remain to be drilled out of 225 committed under agreed work programme.