§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide a list of companies which have not yet agreed terms of State participation in their North Sea oil and gas production concessions.
§ Mr. David HowellA list of companies with which the Government have participation agreements is given in appendix 13 of the 1979 report to Parliament on development of the oil and gas resources of the United Kingdom. Such agreements have been sought only from licensees with actual or prospective commercial oil discoveries under first to fourth round licences. A complete list of licensees is given in the annual report to Parliament under the Continental Shelf Act 1964.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list, by percentage, the current ownership of proven oil and gas reserves in the North Sea by nation States, via companies registered in these States.
§ Mr. David HowellAn offshore production licence entitles the holder to explore for and produce oil and gas in a specified area of the United Kingdom continental shelf. It does not confer any ownership rights over the reserves.