§ Mr. KhabraTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy that future bidding rounds for North sea oil exploration will be subject to prior environmental assessments; and if he will ensure that environmental policy statements submitted by successful bidders will be published. [12454]
§ Mr. PageMy officials currently consult, among others, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee before any seaward area of the United Kingdom continental shelf, including the North sea, is offered for licensing. The JNCC provides advice about the potential impact of oil and gas activities on the environmental resources of the area and, where appropriate, suggests conditions that might be applied to the licence to mitigate these impacts in the event of licence being awarded. The conditions can include requirements for environmental assessment before particular activities under the licence can take place. I expect that these arrangements, or some similar mechanism, will continue for future licensing rounds.
I do not at present have any plans to publish the environmental policy statements provided by successful applicants in support of their applications for petroleum licences, but such information may be made available for inspection to members of the public subject to prior arrangement with my officials.