HC Deb 30 November 2000 vol 357 c747W
Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will suspend further consideration of the 19th round of oil and gas licensing of environmentally sensitive areas to the west of the Shetland Islands until the regulations applying the EC Habitats Directive to the offshore industry have been implemented; and if he will list the sites requiring designation as special areas for conservation. [140887]

Mr. Byers

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe on 25 October 2000,Official Report, column 129W.

Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors he took into account in granting approval for oil and gas exploration of the White Zone between the Shetland and Faroe Islands. [140886]

Mr. Byers

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Thomas) on 9 November 2000,Official Report, columns 333–34W.