HC Deb 16 December 1980 vol 996 c91W
Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make an announcement regarding the seventh round of offshore licensing.

Mr. Gray

The seventh round offered (i) a number of blocks designated by my Department and (ii) a defined area of the northern North Sea from which companies were able to apply for any block or blocks of their own selection. I have today placed in the Library of the House a list of conditional licence awards for blocks in the latter category. The total number of awards is 42 and each of these attracts an initial payment of £5 million.

The assessment continues of applications for the designated blocks and I plan to announce awards in the new year.

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