§ Mr. Ian Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the designation of further areas of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonAn additional 2990 sq. km. of the Continental Shelf have been designated by Order in Council made on 9th February as areas in which the United Kingdom's rights to the seabed 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 to the northwest of the Shetland Isles. 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 310W areas to be placed in the Library of the House.