Offshore Gas Rigs Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Randall of Uxbridge
Main Page: Lord Randall of Uxbridge (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Randall of Uxbridge's debates with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(3 years, 5 months ago)
Lords ChamberThe environment is clearly very important in this matter; I agree with the noble Baroness about that. However, our revised Oil and Gas Authority strategy came into force last month and features a range of net-zero obligations for the oil and gas industry.
My Lords, I declare my interest as a council member of the RSPB. Although I fear that this is probably not in my noble friend’s remit, have Her Majesty’s Government undertaken any research into the effect of flaring gas from offshore gas rigs on wildlife, particularly birds?
The noble Lord is right that that is not in my remit, but I am happy to tell him that my department has not undertaken any research in this area because, to date, there is no known evidence of significant impacts identified. Some species of birds migrating across the North Sea may become attracted to offshore light sources. To this extent, the 2015 OSPAR convention developed guidelines to reduce the impact of offshore installations on birds in the OSPAR maritime area.