§ The Earl of LAUDERDALEasked Her Majesty's Government:
How long after the closing date for applications it took them to finalise licences for exploration of the Continental Shelf granted under each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth rounds respectively.
§ Lord STRABOLGIThe intervals between applications being received and the grant of licences were: In the first and second rounds, each two months; in the third round, 5–22 months (with licences in five batches); in the fourth round, four-seven months (two batches); and in the fifth round 13–22 months. In the fifth round, there was an intermediate stage, at which conditional licences were notified after four months.
House adjourned at ten minutes before eight o'clock.