§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the blocks allocated in each of the North Sea licensing rounds remains untouched; and for how long this has been the case.
§ Mr. GrayAll blocks remaining under licence from the first to fourth rounds have been seismically surveyed or drilled or a combination of the two as part of the working obligations during the initial period of the licence. The percentage that have not been drilled subsequently and the time period involved are as follows:
Round per cent. years First 6 11 Second 20 10 Third 20 5 Fourth 15 3 Comparable figures for the fifth and sixth rounds are not available because the time allowed for the completion of working obligations has not yet expired.