§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish his estimate of the anticipated cost of gas which is expected to be produced from future exploitation of offshore oilfields.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithProduction costs for associated gas from offshore oilfields vary widely between different developments depending upon factors such as flow rates, gas-oil ratios, transportation modes and requirements for gas processing or reinjection. It is not therefore possible to give a meaningful estimate.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if it is his intention to ensure that all gas from United Kingdom fields will be landed in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe Government see no reason at present for changing the requirement that gas produced from the United Kingdom continental shelf should be landed in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of gas demand by the year 2,000.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithMy Department's latest projections of gas demand are given in its proof of evidence for the Sizewell B public inquiry, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy in which year he expects the United Kingdom will cease to obtain sufficient natural gas from its own resources to meet home demand.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithProduction of natural gas from the United Kingdom continental shelf has never been sufficient to meet home demand fully, particularly since the import of Norwegian Frigg gas started in 1977.
I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on Monday 11 February at column 23.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the estimated United Kingdom gas requirement he expects to be provided from United Kingdom reserves in five, 10 and 15 years time.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe results of recent record levels of exploration and appraisal activity indicate that the United Kingdom should be able to supply a substantial majority of its requirements for gas in the 1990s from United Kingdom reserves.