HC Deb 09 July 1979 vol 970 c11W
30. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the development of the North Sea oil fields after 1985.

Mr. Gray

The rate of development of North Sea oil fields after 1985 will depend on many factors including the world oil price and supply position, trends in costs, the impact of new technology and, in part, on the future rate of licensing. It will also depend on the rate of discovery of new fields, and it is my intention that the essential further exploration of the United Kingdom continental shelf should be carried out with increased vigour.