§ 2.48 p.m.
§ LORD DIGBYMy 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 term "Celtic Sea" is used on Admiralty charts and other official publications; if so, what area is so defined; and whether that term will be used when granting licences for the exploration of oil and gas.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD HUGHES)My Lords, the use of the term "Celtic Sea" has been approved by the Naval Hydrographer to define the area of sea bounded roughly by lines joining Ushant, Lands End, Hartland Point, Lundy Island, St. Govan's Head and Rosslare; thence following the coast of Ireland South to Mizzen Head and along the 200 metre isobath to approximately the latitude of Ushant. It will be shown on new editions of the relevant chart. Licences to search for oil and gas are granted in respect of specified numbered blocks, and not in respect of named areas.
§ LORD DIGBYMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for that detailed reply, may I also ask the Government to bear in mind that South-West England is particularly well placed to provide on-shore facilities for the exploration of oil and gas in most of this extensive area?
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, a supply base has already been set up in Pembroke, and the South-West of England would obviously be suitable for other bases if the exploration results showed that this was necessary.
§ THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that on May 3 last there was laid before Parliament a Statutory Instrument called The Herring (Celtic Sea) Licensing Order 1974, in the Schedule to which the Celtic Sea is defined as:
The area of sea lying to the south-east of Eire bounded by a line beginning at a point on the coast of Eire in 52° 30′ N latitude, thence due east to the coast of Wales, thence in a south-westerly and southerly direction along the coast of Wales to a point in 5° W longitude …",and so on for another six or seven lines? Will he say whether or not this is the same definition as the one he has given us?
§ LORD HUGHESThe brief and strictly correct answer to that is, no, my Lords, I was not so aware. I am prepared to assume that I am now aware of it, and I would expect that if you look at it it means that you start at one point and go round in the opposite direction.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, could the noble Lord confirm that the term "Celtic Sea" was coined by two oilmen working for a very well known company in a very expansive moment after a prolonged luncheon? Would the noble Lord see what he can do to change the geography after lunch one day?
§ LORD HUGHESNo, my Lords; fot once the noble Lord's information is wrong. The term was first used during a fisheries conference held in Dublin in 1930. I am not aware whether it was pre- or post-luncheon.
§ LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYALMy Lords, could the noble Lord tell us whether there has been collaboration with France about the naming and delimitation of this area?
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, that is another question. If it were to be put down either 1 or my noble friend Lord Balogh would be happy to answer it.
§ LORD MAELORMy Lords, could it be called the Sea of Wales and be definite about it? It was stolen by the English.
§ LORD HUGHESMy Lords, it could be if we were searching for trouble.