§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on trends in the incidence of earth tremors and earthquakes in the United Kingdom; and whether any research has been done on a possible relationship with the abstraction of oil and gas in the North sea.
§ Mr. MoynihanEarthquakes in the United Kingdom are monitored by the British geological survey (BGS) using a network of seismometers which is being upgraded at present under contracts placed by a number of organisations, including my Department. Historical events and recent monitoring records, which are published by the BGS, have not yet established any trends towards changes in patterns of seismic activity.
There is frequent seismic activity associated with natural geological structures beneath parts of the North sea. However, there is no evidence for any relationship between the abstraction of oil and gas in the North sea and earthquake activity although, for some small earthquakes, the possibility cannot be discounted.