Oil and Gas Exploration

HC Deb 29 January 1993 vol 217 cc897-8W

Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he hopes to announce the names of the successful applicants who have been granted licences in respect of the 14th round of coastal oil and gas exploration.

Mr. Eggar

An announcement on awards of licences offered in the 14th offshore licensing round is expected to be made in May 1993.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by(a) location and (b) name of applicant, the applications his Department has received in respect of the 14th round of coastal oil and gas exploration.

Mr. Eggar

Details of applications received in all offshore oil and gas licensing rounds are regarded as commercially confidential. The names of successful applicants will be announced.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the names of the organisations he consulted before making his final decision on granting licences in respect of the 14th round of coastal oil and gas explorations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

No decisions have yet been made on granting licences in respect of the 14th round of offshore licensing. Although a number of statutory and non-statutory bodies are consulted regarding their interests before blocks are announced to be available for licensing, any decision on the award of licences is a matter of ministerial discretion, based on the published criteria for awards.