§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the role of statutory nature conservation bodies under the new arrangements for the out-of-round award of petroleum production licences.
§ Mr. EggarThe role of statutory conservation bodies under the new arrangements for out-of-round awards of petroleum production licences is the same as their role in licencing rounds. It is our general and established policy, before offering blocks for licence in any part of the United Kingdom continental shelf, to consult relevant statutory and non-statutory bodies (including conservation bodies) in advance of any announcement and to attach licence conditions agreed with such bodies which reflects each block's sensitivities.