HC Deb 09 June 1980 vol 986 cc43-4W
Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will specify the nature of the additional costs which would be incurred if flagstaffs in Parliament Square, The Mall and elsewhere were to remain erect.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

As the answer to this question necessarily involves a good deal of detail, I shall write to my hon. Friend.

in (b). cumulative reserves as in (c) divided by oil discoveries as in (b), (d) exports of United Kingdom sourced oil to the European Economic Community and (e) wells drilled.

Mr. Gray

[pursuant to his answer, 12 May 1980, c. 309] : I wish to give the following further information.

The table below shows for each year, from 1970 to 1979 inclusive, United Kingdom oil consumption, estimated remaining reserves net of depletion, exports of United Kingdom continental shelf crude to the EEC and the numbers of exploration, appraisal and production wells drilled and completed. It is not possible to provide estimates of the reserves of the oil finds in each year because the reservoir characteristics and commercial potential of a find can be determined only after subsequent appraisal drilling and other studies. The estimated total United Kingdom reserves may vary over time due to assumptions and methodology. Therefore, the latest estimates of recoverable reserves of between 2,400 and 4,400 million tonnes as at 3 December 1978 given in the 1979 Brown Book have been taken backwards and forwards to obtain a series of remaining oil reserves net of depletion.