§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many North Sea oil discoveries and fields have been affected by the Government's depletion policy; and how much production has been restrained in an attempt to level the steep trajectory of production that is likely to be surplus to United Kingdom requirements.
§ Mr. GrayIn announcing the Government's oil depletion policy on 23 July 1980 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy said that the assurances given by the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Varley) on 6 December 1974 would be honoured. This means that, so far as new field developments are concerned, only those related to discoveries made after the end of 1975 can be considered for deferral. Clyde is the only case of this kind which has so far arisen; this will be deferred for two years so that production will not now start until 1987, as announced by my right hon. Friend in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Banff (Mr. Myles) on 18 December 1980. No decisions have been taken on whether to have production cuts which under the assurances to which I have referred cannot be made before 1982.