HC Deb 25 January 1988 vol 126 cc19-20W
26. Mr. Cran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the implications of the changes in known United Kingdom oil reserves since 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Since 1979 estimates of initially recoverable reserves have risen by over 13 per cent. from 2,009 million tonnes to 2,280 million tonnes. This reflects the high level of appraisal and development activity in the United Kingdom continental shelf. On current estimates, the United Kingdom is likely to remain self-sufficient in oil well into the 1990s.