North Sea Oil and Gas Debate

On Wednesday (9 February 2022), the Government was asked to make a statement on reports that it would approve the development of six North Sea oil and gas fields.

Responding for the Government, the Energy Minister said the fields in question were already licensed and were going through the normal regulatory processes. He said all proposals are subject to scrutiny before consent, including an environmental assessment and a public consultation. He said no decisions had been taken by the regulators, and that it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further on that process. Unfortunately, I am concerned that the Government’s energy policy provides neither an answer to the energy crisis millions of families are facing in the present nor an answer for the long term.