§ Mr. ArbuthnotTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to award offshore petroleum production licences in the frontier exploration areas to the north and west of Scotland.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI am today making available a list of the licence areas for which applications will be invited in a round of licensing in the frontier exploration areas to the north and west of Scotland.
Eleven licences will be on offer in the frontier round. I shall place in the Libraries of both Houses a full list of the grouped blocks which will be on offer in the round.
The purpose of a separate round for frontier areas is to encourage a fresh start to exploration in areas which have been little explored in the past and where existing geological information is sparse or low in quality. A fresh start needs to be made to exploration in these areas if the contribution which the United Kingdom continental shelf makes to the economy is to be extended further in the next century.
To offset the high financial risks attached to exploration in the deep water areas concerned, the areas for licensing will be substantially larger than usual. Together, the 11 licences will cover 117 blocks. Licensees will be expected to carry out a programme of seismic exploration in the first part of the initial phase of the licence. It is expected that any drilling will normally take place in the second part of
994W
Offences Short title of Principal Statutes OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON: Common Law, and Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Secs. 1, 9 and 10. Attempted murder Ibid, also Criminal Attempts Act 1981 Threats, conspiracy or incitement to murder:— Conspiring or soliciting, etc, to commit murder. Criminal Law Act 1977 Sec. 1 Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 4 Assisting offender by impeding his apprehension or prosecution in a case of murder. Criminal Law Act, 1967, Sec. 4(1). Manslaughter, etc:— Manslaughter Common Law and Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Secs. 5, 9 and 10 Infanticide Infanticide Act, 1938 Sec. 1(1) Child destruction Infant Life (preservation) Act, 1929 Sec. 1 Causing death by reckless driving Road Traffic Act 1988 Sec. 1 Diminished responsibility Homicide Act 1957, Sec. 2 Wounding and other acts endangering life:— Wounding, etc, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, etc, or to resist apprehension. Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 18. Shooting at naval or revenue vessels. Customs and Excise Management Act, 1979, sec. 85(2). Attempting to choke, suffocate etc, with intent to commit an indictable offence (garroting) Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 21. Using chloroform, etc, to commit or assist in committing an indictable offence. Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 22. Burning, maining, etc, by explosion. Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 28. Causing, explosions or casting corrosive fluids with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 29. Impeding the saving of life from shipwreck. Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 17 Placing, etc., explosives in or near ships or buildings with intent to do bodily harm, etc. Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 30. Endangering life or causing harm by administering poison. Offences against the Person Act, 1861, Sec. 23. Possession etc. of explosives with intent to endanger life. Explosives Substances Act, 1883, Sec. 3 (in part). this phase. A feature of the licences granted in these areas will be extended terms to allow licensees longer periods in which to plan and carry out activity on the licences.
As soon as possible, I will publish in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes a formal announcement giving the detailed licence terms for frontier licences (including financial terms) and the basis on which awards will be made. Any additional licence conditions, the format of licence applications, and the information required will be available from my Department as soon as the Gazette notices have been published.
Applications will be returnable by a date in January or February 1991 which has yet to be determined.
I will shortly make available a list of the licence areas for which applications will be invited in a separate 12th round of licensing for the established petroleum areas of the UKCS.