§ 33. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will increase the fee for granting licences to prospect for oil and natural gas on land, to discourage unwarranted applications for planning consent.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe charges for licences under the Petroleum Production Regulations will be fixed to secure a proper return to the Exchequer without discouraging interest in exploration. I recognise the need to consider and to balance the factors concerned with the countryside and the environment against 5W the economic benefits from the discovery of indigenous supplies of oil and gas.