Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of proposed new oil and gas field developments, including Jackdaw and Rosebank, on (a) the environment and (b) the wider economy.

The environmental impact of proposed offshore oil and gas developments is subject to rigorous regulatory assessment by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), including a full environmental impact assessment and consultation with statutory nature protection bodies and the public.

While the Government has not undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of proposed new oil and gas field developments on the wider economy, Equinor estimates that Rosebank could create £8.1bn of direct investment. Jackdaw is part of a £20bn to £25bn investment by Shell UK in the UK energy system over the next decade.