§ Mr. Cleggasked the Minister of Power when he expects to receive a report on the investigations into the possibility of natural gas finds under the Irish Sea.
§ Mr. MasonInvestigations have not yet reached a stage when a prediction can be made about the chances of finding natural gas or oil under the Irish Sea. Gulf Oil (Great Britain) Limited in association with the National Coal Board holds a production licence covering five 393W blocks between Lancashire and the Isle of Man and has announced that it plans to drill a well or wells this year. The results will be available to me as will the seismic data obtained by holders of non-exclusive exploration licences operating in the open designated areas of the Irish Sea.
The Institute of Geological Sciences has carried out a geophysical survey in the Cardigan Bay area and is drilling on land at Mochras.