§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what plans he has for implementing the depletion provisions of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975;
(2) whether he intends to reserve specific areas in the North Sea for exclusive licensing to the British National Oil Corporation and the British Gas Corporation; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he proposes to initiate the depletion provisions of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975 by designating areas of the Continental Shelf as a national reserve comparable to the naval reserves in the United States of America, or by limiting development of commercial oilfields after discoveries have been made.
§ Mr. BennThe depletion provisions of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975 relate to the possible delaying of development and to control over production. I propose to consider the use of either form of depletion control as and when that seems desirable. I have no pans for designating a national reserve, nor for reserving specific areas in the North Sea for exclusive licensing to the BNOC or the British Gas Corporation. However, as was noted in the reply to the hon. Member on 2nd April, there is the possibility that the BNOC might explore blocks without necessarily developing finds if at any time the Government wants that.