§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give in terms of million tons of coal equivalent his latest estimate of the total proved reserves of oil in the British sector of the North Sea; and if he will give a similar equivalent for his most recent estimate of total ultimate reserves of oil and natural gas on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.
§ Mr. John SmithThe proven reserves of oil up to the end of March 1975 were published in the annual Brown Book, and in terms of coal equivalent amount 185W to 1,760 million tons. Recent discoveries are being assessed but are unlikely to change the quoted figure by virtue of the definition of proven reserves. (Brown Book 1975, page 15.) Ultimate reserves of oil and gas include the categories "Proven", "Probable" and "Possible", as set out in the same passage of the Brown Book, and in terms of coal equivalent are in the range of 5,000–7,500 million tons for oil and 1,050–1,750 million tons for natural gas.