Peter Aldous urges the Government to put forward policies to encourage the oil and gas industry in the southern North sea which has the twin advantages of significant untapped gas reserves and a low cost base.

 

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): Notwithstanding the fact that the oil and gas industry is currently facing serious challenges, the southern North sea has the twin advantages of significant untapped gas reserves and a low cost base. Can the Secretary of State confirm that she will be bringing forward policies as quickly as possible that will meet the nation’s requirement for more gas and protect and create jobs?

 

Andrea Leadsom: I can assure my hon. Friend that we are doing everything we can to improve exploration of the further potential in the North sea, and he is right to point to the gas reserves in the southern North sea. Of course, the beauty of this is that gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, so it can also help to meet our decarbonisation objectives.

 

| Hansard