§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how he consulted the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and other appropriate statutory conservation agencies before making his decision to award petroleum production licences for North sea blocks 39/1 and 39/2.
§ Mr. EggarThe Joint Nature Conservation Committee and other appropriate statutory conservation agencies were consulted about blocks 39/1 and 39/2 in March, as part of the 14th round consultation process. At that time no out-of-round application had been received for these blocks and it was envisaged that they would be offered in the 14th round.