§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in the light of the recent 47W behaviour of a United States oil company in the English Channel relating to the activities of fishermen, he is fully satisfied that they, and all oil-prospecting companies, are observing both the letter and spirit of Section 10 of Schedule 7 to the Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1976; and if he will draw up a code of practice by which oil companies should abide in their search for oil under the sea, relating specifically to consultation and co-operation with fishermen.
§ Dr. MabonUnder the terms of exploration licences, all offshore exploration must be conducted in such a way as not to interfere unjustifiably with navigation or fishing in the survey area. Furthermore, under Continental Shelf Operations Notice No. 35, operating companies are asked to notify all interested Departments of their intention to carry out an exploratory survey. It is the practice of companies conducting exploratory surveys to take account of fishermen's interests by, for example, giving prior notice of a survey area, delaying surveys if this is helpful, and offering to pay compensation for any damage caused by the survey. Consultations are held between the industry and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods Sea Fisheries Inspectorate and with representatives of the Royal Navy. In these circumstances I feel that it is unnecessary to draw up a formal code of practice when the form of consultation and co-operation described usually works satisfactorily for all concerned.