HL Deb 07 May 1974 vol 351 c361
LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL

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 what are their latest estimates for oil production from the British sector of the North Sea in 1980.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (LORD BALOGH)

My Lords, I would ask the noble Lord to await the forthcoming report on oil production and reserves on the British Continental Shelf. A Statement will be made to Parliament shortly, but I can assure noble Lords that they will not find it unsatisfactory.

LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL

My Lords, I am sure the House will be grateful for that reply. May I ask the Minister whether he will, in the meantime, exercise all his influence to restrain some of his colleagues in some of their wilder statements based on some of the more optimistic estimates that we have been given from various quarters?

LORD BALOGH

My Lords, I should have thought that that fell far beyond the Question.

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