§ Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact on the control of the UK's oil and gas industries of the draft European Constitution; and if she will make a statement. [139420]
§ Mr. TimmsMy Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the draft Constitution on the Department's powers to regulate recovery of hydrocarbons from the UK Continental Shelf. This assessment notes that Article III-157 of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty would give the EU competence in energy matters, including natural resources, with voting by qualified majority. Also that Article III-130(2)(c) provides for unanimity on "measures significantly affecting a Member State's choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply". Under the Treaty establishing the European Community, there is already Union activity in energy matters and we believe there is a strong case for making the legal base for policy in this area more transparent. However, the UK Government would not agree to any proposal that was inconsistent with UK energy interests.