§ Mr. AingerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) pursuant to his answer of 18 January,Official Report, column 37, regarding environmental impact assessments prior to drilling in the Celtic sea, what special conditions he has plans to attach to any licences issued for blocks 103/2, 103/3, 103/6, 103/7, 106/25, 106/29, 107/21, 104/16, 104/17, 104/18, 104/19 and 104/21;
(2) what advice he received from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Countryside Council for Wales prior to including each of blocks 103/2, 103/3, 103/6, 103/7, 106/25, 106/29, 107/21, 104/16, 104/17, 104/18, 104/19 and 104/21 in the 14th round of offshore drilling licensing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarIn considering whether to offer blocks 103/2, 103/3, 103/6, 103/7, 106/25, 106/29, 107/21, 104/16, 104/17, 104/18, 104/19 and 104/21 in the 14th round, officials took account of the concerns of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee—JNCC—and the Countryside Council for Wales—CCW—regarding the ecological status of the area. On balance, the evidence did not justify the exclusion of these blocks from hydrocarbons exploration, but it was agreed that special conditions should be attached to each licence.
These special conditions have been agreed with the Department of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the JNCC, which has consulted the CCW. As part of the special conditions, licensees will be obliged to consult these organisations before undertaking any activity in these blocks. The conditions will reflect the concerns related to each block and to those elements of the environment potentially at risk.