§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of licences held by the British National Oil Corporation as sole licensee, the date of the grant of each block and the work so far undertaken on each block so allocated.
§ Dr. Mabon:The Corporation holds three licences as sole licensee. These were granted on 5th April 1978. Information about the Corporation's offshore 380W activities will be published in the Corporation's annual report.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many assignments of North Sea licensees' interests have been submitted to him for approval to the latest date for which figures are available; and in how many the British National Oil Corporation has secured a substantial interest as a condition of his consent to the assignment;
(2) to the present date, in how many licences the British National Oil Corporation has secured a carried interest following the competition of farm-in agreements for which his consent is required.
§ Dr. Mabon:Since 1st January 1976—the date when the British National Oil Corporation was established—108 applications have been received. Excluding assignments for participation purposes and those involving an internal reorganisation of its licence interests, the Corporation has secured interests in 10 licences. Details of the transactions are commercially confidential.