§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what representations his Department has made on the development of oil and gas resources in the Firth of Clyde;
(2) which areas, in and around the Firth of Clyde, have been ruled out of bounds to oil and gas exploration on account of military requirements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe Ministry of Defence is consulted by the Department of Energy about proposals for licensing oil and gas development and production but no such proposals relating to the Firth of Clyde have been received since 1985. On that occasion, my Department was content for exploration to proceed in a block to the south-west of Arran subject to a number of restrictions including that no activity should take place within an area bounded by the following co-ordinates:
- 55 20 N 5 28 W
- 55 25 N 5 28 W
- 55 25 N 5 22 W
- 55 20 N 5 22 W
In considering any further proposals my Department and the Department of Energy would seek to agree arrangements which would allow oil and gas activity to take place while safeguarding Ministry of Defence interests.