HC Deb 09 March 1994 vol 239 cc300-1W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 554, if he will list the blocks about which his Department expressed concern to the DTI during the 14th round of offshore licensing.

Mr. Baldry

[holding answer 4 March 1994]: No. The release of information about these blocks is a matter for the Department of Trade and Industry.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many blocks his Department recommended be excluded from the 14th round of offshore oil licensing.

Mr. Baldry

[holding answer 4 March 1994]: My Department recommended that 22 blocks be excluded from the 14th round unless conditions were attached that would allow the prospecting and working of aggregates such that the national aggregates supply would not be jeopardised.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 28 February, Official Report, column 554, if he will list all the areas of concern his Department asked the DTI to address in deciding which blocks to licence during the 14th round of offshore licensing.

Mr. Baldry

[holding answer 4 March 1994]: My Department expressed concern about blocks which were of considerable importance to the marine aggregates industry. We also drew attention to two areas which were in the vicinity of sites of special scientific interest.