HC Deb 18 January 1972 vol 829 c134W
Mr. Gurden

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what quantity of oil is expected to be delivered for sale from North Sea drillings in each of the next five years.

Mr. Ridley

Production of oil from the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea is unlikely to start until late in 1974. It is not unreasonable to suppose that production might reach 25 million tons per year five years from now.