HC Deb 11 May 1976 vol 911 cc144-6W
Mr. Peter Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many speeches have been delivered with his authority by civil servants in his Department at home and abroad on public occasions during the life of this Government; if he will list the speakers and the occasions; and if he will specify which were delivered on behalf of himself or his Ministers.

Mr. Benn

In accordance with the long-standing rules governing the conduct of civil servants under successive Governments, officials in the Department of Energy are given authority from time to time to deliver speeches on public occasions in order to create better understanding of the processes of Government or to explain Government policies or decisions.

Speeches have been made by my officials during the last two years on such subjects as energy conservation; North Sea oil and gas matters; research and development; and existing and alternative energy sources. To provide a detailed list would involve a disproportionate amount of time and expense.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the statement by an Under-Secretary of his Department at a Press conference in Houston, Texas, that companies which were unto-operative in conceding to the Government 51 per cent. participation in subsisting licences would be denied licences in the next round of licensing later this year was made with his authority.

Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will place a copy of the speech concerning the Government's North Sea oil policies, delivered on 3rd May at Houston, Texas, by Mr. Clarence Tuck, a permanent under-secretary in his Department, in the Library;

(2) if the speech about the Government's North Sea oil policies delivered on 3rd May at Houston, Texas, by Mr. Clarence Tuck, a permanent undersecretary in his Department, was made with his authority.

Mr. Benn

Last week, Mr. Clarence Tuck, an under-secretary in my Department, fulfilled certain engagements in connection with an Offshore Technology Conference and Exhibition at Houston on behalf of my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Energy. This was done with my authority. The reference in the question from the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) to Mr. Tuck's statement is incorrect. In a speech, which my hon. Friend the Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Mabon) had prepared and which Mr. Tuck read on his behalf on 5th May, reference was naturally made to the Government's policy objective of securing majority state participation in existing commercial oil fields. I and other Ministers have stressed on many occasions the importance the Government attaches to the continued success of the current participation negotiations. The companies are. therefore, well aware that co-opera- tion with the Government will stand them in good stead if they wish to extend their operations on our Continental Shelf and benefit from future discretionary awards of licences.

A copy of the speech is being placed in the Library.

Mr. Rost

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if it is his policy to allow civil servants in his Department to make public speeches containing matters of political controversy.

Mr. Benn

Under the rules long governing the conduct of civil servants, authority can be given for them to make public speeches explaining declared Government policy or discussing the processes of Government. This has been the practice of successive Governments.