§ Mr. David Howellasked the Secretary of State for Energy what restrictions exist on gas producers operating on the United Kingdom continental shelf against laying gas pipelines to the continental mainland and selling the gas into continental grid systems.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIt is a condition of all United Kingdom continental shelf production licences that, except with the consent of the Secretary of State, the petroleum produced must be landed in the United Kingdom. There are no restrictions on the export of gas once landed. In addition, the construction and use of pipelines from United Kingdom continental shelf fields in 223W continental shelf waters require the authorisation of the Secretary of State under the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975.