HC Deb 16 December 1994 vol 251 c852W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what involvement his Department has in the procedure for licensing offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction.

Sir Paul Beresford

Responsibility for the licensing of offshore oil and gas exploration and extraction rests with the Department of Trade and Industry. My Department is, however, consulted about blocks proposed for licensing and passes comments to DTI in cases where environmental issues are involved.