HC Deb 23 November 1977 vol 939 cc764-5W
Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the designation of further areas of the Continental Shelf.

Mr. Benn

Approximately an additional 20,000 sq km of the Continental Shelf have been designated by an Order in Council made on 15th November, as areas in which the United Kingdom's rights to the sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources may now be exercised.

The designation order, which is made under Section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964, covers an area in the English Channel and the South-Western Approaches which has become available as a result of the Decision of the United Kingdom-France Court of Arbitration. The newly designated area is adjacent to existing designated areas.

The areas now designated are available to holders of petroleum exploration licences. The designation order also increases the area of Continental Shelf in respect of which I am able to grant petroleum production licences.

I have arranged for the designation order, and a map showing the newly designated areas, to be placed in the Library of the House.

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