§ Mr. John Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has of the quantities of natural gas available for exploitation in the area of the North Sea off the coasts of Scotland; and what proposals he has for the use of such gas as is available.
§ Mr. VarleyNo gas from the northern basin of the North Sea is expected to be available in the United Kingdom before 1975. Our latest estimates of the production and reserves will be included in the report to Parliament which will soon be published.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of recoverable reserves and of likely output by 1980 in respect of each oil or gas field so far discovered in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.
§ Mr. Strang,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th April 1974; Vol. 872, c. 9–10], gave the following information:
306WInformation about the recoverable reserves and likely output by 1980 in respect of the oil and gas fields is received from the licence holders on a confidential basis. The forthcoming report to Parliament will give the latest estimates of total production and reserves expected from discoveries on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf as a whole.