Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many cubic metres of gas are being flared daily from the North Sea oil rigs; and when he expects that facilities will be available to utilise a substantial part of it.
§ Mr. GrayThe average rate of flaring on the UKCS during April 1981 was 10.2 million cubic metres a day. Facilities to use a substantial part of such gas should become available in 1982. From 1985 onwards the gas-gathering pipeline will further improve the ability to collect gas in the northern North Sea, both from fields now in production or under development, and from fields expected to be developed in the future. I shall continue to submit applications for gas flaring consents to the most rigorous scrutiny.