§ Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest forecasts available for North Sea oil production for the next five years; and for how long he calculates, on the basis of present estimates, that the United Kingdom can remain self-sufficient in oil.
§ Dr. MabonThe latest published forecasts of United Kingdom continental shelf332W oil production are those contained in this year's Brown Book. Next year's Brown Book will contain revised forecasts.
I expect that the United Kingdom will achieve net self-sufficiency in oil in 1980. How long this continues will depend on many factors, but the United Kingdom continental shelf will clearly continue to make a very large contribution to our oil requirements for many years.