<p>The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill will not affect the UK's ability to reach targets for ensuring our Marine Protected Areas are in a good or recovering state.</p><p> </p><p>Nor will it change the robust framework we have in place for licensing oil and gas that ensures this.</p><p> </p><p>Licenses have only ever been awarded once the environmental regulator was satisfied that the activities will not negatively impact protected areas, and their impact is carefully managed by our expert regulators.</p><p> </p><p>There is therefore no reason for the Bill to affect our Environment Act target for maintaining marine protected areas.</p>