§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which blocks his Department recommended should be excluded from the 14th round of offshore oil licensing; and on what grounds.
§ Mr. HanleyThe Ministry of Defence is consulted on all proposals to undertake oil exploration work to ensure that they and essential military activities are not incompatible. For operational reasons it would be inappropriate to identify the particular blocks where such military activity takes place. The licenses subsequently issued reflect the outcome of negotiations between this Department, the Department of Trade and Industry and the companies concerned.