HC Deb 19 July 1976 vol 915 c332W
20. Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which European countries now insist as part of their current or proposed oil exploration policies on licensees paying the costs of exploration in these cases where State participation could or would follow upon the discovery of oil.

Dr. J. Dickson Mabon

From information readily available, most European countries with oil exploration and participation policies appear to require licensees to bear the costs of exploration. In certain cases, these may be proportionately re-imbursed in the event of participation.