§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to protect wildlife sites and sites of special scientific interest in the firth of Forth from oil exploration and possible oil contamination arising from the Department of Trade and Industry's 14th round of offering coastal oil and gas exploration licences.
§ Mr. EggarThe environmental sensitivities of all areas offered in the 14th offshore oil and gas licensing round, including any which encompass sites of special scientific interest or of particular wildlife value, have been considered on a block-by-block basis. Environmental conditions to be attached to blocks offered in the first two stages of the round have been drafted following agreement with the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee; those for coastal blocks, including those offered in the Forth approaches, include requirements to consult these bodies and relevant local authorities regarding environmental protection measures before exploration commences. Other special conditions may include seasonal restrictions on exploration activities and controls on discharges from rigs and the chemical formulation of drilling muds.