§ 64. Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the impact of North Sea oil discoveries on the Scottish economy, with particular regard to fuel policy.
§ Mr. RidleyThe impact on fuel policy needs to be considered nationally rather than regionally, and I am keeping this under close review. The debate on the Motion for the Adjournment on 8th November fully covered the effects on the Scottish economy generally.
§ 69. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the recent discoveries of oil off the North-East Coast of Scotland.
§ Mr. RidleyFour discoveries have been reported. It is too early to make a firm forecast, but a rate of 25 million tons per year would not be an unreasonable estimate of production in the U.K. sector by 1975, perhaps trebling by 1980.