§ Mr. AingerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what conditions have been attached to oil exploration licences granted to the oil company for blocks 102/10, 103/1, 103/6, 106/27, 106/18, 106/19 and 106/23.
§ Mr. EggarThe conditions attached to the oil and gas production licences granted to a consortium led by Marathon Oil for blocks 102/10, 103/1, 103/6, 106/27, 106/18, 106/19 and 106/23 are not significantly different from those shown in the indicative conditions circulated in October 1992. A copy of this document was placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the shortest distance in nautical miles between(a) RAF Chivenor and (b) RAF Valley and blocks 102/10, 103/1, 103/6, 106/27, 106/18, 106/19 and 106/23.
§ Mr. EggarThe shortest distances are approximately 70 nautical miles from RAF Chivenor to block 103/6 and 53 nautical miles from RAF Valley to block 106/19.
§ Sir Michael GryllsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he treats licences granted by his Department to oil companies under previous United Kingdom continental shelf licensing rounds as contractually binding agreements.
§ Mr. EggarYes. Licences granted to oil companies offer specified rights, subject to conditions where appropriate, over the areas comprised by the licence, for a period stipulated in the licence. In return, companies undertake to obeserve the terms of the licence and to perform any programme of work agreed with my Department.