Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the (a) direct and (b) indirect costs to the public purse of the decision by Ineos to invoke a force majeure clause in its contract for the Forties pipeline.

The government is monitoring the situation with the Forties Pipeline System closely. Energy Minister Richard Harrington has spoken to Ineos and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy continues to liaise with industry operators to monitor the situation. Any material economic or fiscal effects would be considered by the Office for Budget Responsibility as part of their next forecasts at Spring Statement.