HC Deb 07 March 2003 vol 400 cc1268-70W
Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the oil recovery rate from UK North Sea reserves for each year of production; and what steps she is taking to maximise this rate. [99792]

Mr. Wilson

UK North Sea oil production figures were provided in my answer of 16 January 2003,Official Report, column 799W. The table below set out UK Continental Shelf oil production for each year as a percentage of estimated remaining reserves. The Government is working closely with industry through PILOT, the oil and gas task force, to maximise economic recovery of the UK's hydrocarbon resources. A number of initiatives are being pursued helping to positively assist in this objective, including:

stimulating activity on fallow areas;

changes to the licensing regime to encourage more appraisal and exploration activity;

promotion of asset trading;

encouraging new entrants to the North Sea to ensure that assets are in the hands of those best placed to exploit them;

encouraging innovative approaches to maximising recovery from "brown" fields;

promoting the use of enhanced oil recovery techniques; and finding ways to maintain and enhance the skills base.

UK Oil Production as a percentage of remaining reserves
Year Percentage
1975 0.09
1976 0.53
1977 1.53
1978 2.06
1979 3.10
1980 3.50
1981 3.89
1982 4.91
1983 5.75
1984 6.46
1985 6.79
1986 6.20
1987 6.39
1988 6.32
1989 5.07
1990 5.05
1991 4.66
1992 4.54

Top 10 Solicitors Respiratory Disease Top 10 Solicitors VWF
Thompsons 8,851 UDM 8,759
Hugh James Ford Simey 10,317 Thompsons 4,149
UDM 5,044 Browell Smith & Co 6,339
Raleys 6,174 Raleys 3,999
Mark Gilbert Morse 2,188 Graysons 1,219
Browell Smith & Co 3,583 Hugh James Ford Sime 4,448
Beresfords 831 Watson Burton 1,830
Graysons 2,911 Towells 1,674
Watson Burton 1,977 Beresfords 540
Randall Lloyd Jenkins & Martin 1,091 Kidd & Spoor Harper 1,416

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much has been paid to claimants through each one of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and

Top 10 Solicitors Respiratory Disease Top 10 Solicitors VWF
£ million £ million
Thompsons 123.6 UDM 102.2
Hugh James Ford Simey 129.1 Thompsons 7.5
UDM 30.8 Browell Smith & Co 64.7
Raleys 67.9 Raleys 4.8
Mark Gilbert Morse 18.7 Graysons 2.9
Browell Smith & Co 44.0 Hugh James Ford Sime 44.4
Beresfords 2.4 Watson Burton 32.7
Graysons 17.3 Towells 23.9
Watson Burton 13.5 Beresfords 11.4

Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid to date to each of the top 10 claims handlers involved in the compensation claims for(a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema

Top 10 Solicitors Respiratory Disease Top 10 Solicitors VWF
£ million £ million
Thompsons 22.3 UDM 8.4
Hugh James Ford Simey 23.4 Thompson 7.4
UDM 8.2 Browell Smith & Co 6.4
Raleys 10.3 Raleys 4.8
Mark Gilbert Morse 4.4 Graysons 2.9
Browell Smith & Co 7.9 Hugh James Ford Sime 4.6

UK Oil Production as a percentage of remaining reserves
Year Percentage
1993 4.78
1994 6.10
1995 6.87
1996 6.41
1997 6.36
1998 7.36
1999 8.23
2000 8.47
2001 8.17