§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement regarding the licences awarded to Hamilton Oil Company to explore for oil and gas in the Lleyn peninsula; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarHamilton Oil Company was awarded two blocks north-west of the Lleyn peninsula in the twelfth round of offshore oil and gas licensing. In view of the environmental importance of this area, the then Nature Conservancy Council proposed special licence conditions designed to safeguard the environment. All the conditions were accepted. They include bans on drilling in a 7 km safety zone around Bardsey island and in the rest of block 107/6 between March and September, when seabirds are breeding.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received since August regarding exploration for fossil fuels in(a) the Lleyn peninsula, (b) Cardigan bay, (c) the Pembrokeshire islands, (d) the Bristol channel and (e) Lundy island; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarI have received a small number of letters since August expressing concern about any possible environmental effects of exploration for fossil fuel in one or more of these areas. I have been able to reassure correspondents that special conditions have been and will be attached to licences in these areas to safeguard their marine ecology. In total, the numbers of references to each area has been as follows:
Number a. Lleyn peninsula 7 b. Cardigan bay 11 c. Pembrokeshire islands 3 d. Bristol channel 2 e. Lundy island Nil Areas adjacent to the Pembrokeshire islands and Lundy have not been offered for licensing.