HL Deb 28 January 1974 vol 349 c6

2.45 p.m.

LORD BALOGH

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 whether the review of policy in respect to the hydrocarbon licensing in the British sector of the North and Celtic Seas and the Western Approaches has been completed; and when a Statement can be expected.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY (LORD CARRINGTON)

My Lords, as I told noble Lords on January 21, the Government are examining this whole issue at the present time and when they have come to conclusions I will report further to your Lordships.

LORD BALOGH

My Lords, can not the noble Lord say something more definite than that?

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, if I could, I would have done so, and I assure your Lordships that it is not because I am trying to withhold anything from you. As the noble Lord himself knows—because he has written to the newspapers about it and he has spoken in debates in this House on this subject—this is a very complicated issue; but we must get on as fast as we can.

LORD BALOGH

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that completely unsatisfactory answer may I ask him whether a year and a quarter is not enough for his Department to consider this issue?

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I must say to the noble Lord, for the third time running, that I am not yet ready to make a Statement.