§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many licences are now issued for North Sea oil exploration; how many are held by foreign and substantially foreign-controlled companies; and what is the total British share of the holdings.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanOne hundred and sixty-three exclusive production licences, which permit exploration as well, are currently in force. As many licences are granted to groups of companies, often United Kingdom and foreign-owned companies in association, it is not possible222W to attribute licence ownership by nationality. However, out of a total of 220 named licencees 151 are United Kingdom subsidiaries of foreign or substantially foreign concerns. Calculated on the basis of the area of territory under licence, the British share of territory on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf as whole, taking Shell as 40 per cent. British, is 32 per cent.