§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government conducted an economic assessment of the impact of the 10 per cent. North Sea tax on(a) current and (b) future (i) employment and (ii) exploration related to North Sea activities prior to the measure being announced in the Budget. [53215]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Government has been reviewing the North Sea taxation regime since 1998. The changes announced in the Budget were subject to detailed analysis to ensure that they delivered the Government's objectives of securing a fair share of North Sea revenues, encouraging long-term investment, and establishing a stable tax regime in the North Sea for the long term.