Offshore Oil and Gas: Venting and Flaring
Debate between Lord Whitehead and Lord Rooker(3 weeks ago)
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Lord Whitehead (Lab)
No, the Government have not relaxed sanctions against Putin and Russia. I believe the noble Lord is referring to recent decisions about how to phase in new sanctions as far as Russia is concerned, particularly concerning third-party products which arise not from crude oil itself but from the refining of it, particularly in circumstances where the UK does not have that refining capacity at home. The decisions that have been taken very recently relate only to that and not to the ongoing and increased sanctions as far as Putin is concerned.
Lord Rooker (Lab)
Why does my noble friend think most of the media, a good many Members of this House and informed opinion outside actually think exactly what the noble Lord, Lord Gove, asked—that we have relaxed the view on Russia? Why has that impression got around?
Lord Whitehead (Lab)
Well, I imagine the impression has got around because people are not listening to what is actually being said about the position of sanctions as far as Putin and Russia are concerned and how that relates to third-party products, particularly jet fuel, which is a current urgent situation. As far as the overall picture is concerned, it is clearly the case that sanctions are not being relaxed against Putin’s Russia and, indeed, on the contrary, are being increased.