§ Mr. Cleggasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the recent finding of natural gas in the Irish Sea off the Fylde coast; and what plans there may be for bringing the gas ashore.
§ Mr. John SmithThe British Gas Corporation announced on 23rd September that the well drilled by the corporation as an operator in its own right on block 110/2 in the Irish Sea had found gas and that further drilling would be undertaken. I understand that the second well on block 110/7 did not encounter gas and that further drilling and analysis of the area will be required before the extent of the gas accumulation can be determined.
The question of plans for bringing gas ashore does not arise for the time being.