HC Deb 13 March 1972 vol 833 cc11-2W
51. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now announce his decisions on the recent applications for exploration and production licences for oil in the North Sea.

Sir J. Eden

I hope to be able to make an announcement later this week.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what criteria he is able to estimate exploration expenditure of a North Sea oil field as being between £½ million and £2 million.

Mr. Ridley

The estimated cost of drilling an exploration well, at £500,000–£2 million, is based on general experience and available data.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what obligations are laid upon the North Sea oil licensees to co-ordinate their possible plans for lying pipes over the ocean bed with the fishing industry.

Mr. Ridley

Under the Coast Protection Act, 1949, consent is needed to lay a pipeline below high water mark; in the interests of safety and navigation the consent is usually conditional upon the pipeline being buried to such depth as to obviate interference with shipping, including fishing. In practice the licensee consults the fishing industry through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.