Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the Rosebank oil field with respect to the Government's objective to protect 30 per cent of the UK's oceans by 2030.

The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment & Decommissioning (OPRED) is in the process of considering the environmental statement submitted by Equinor in support of the proposed Rosebank development. As part this process, OPRED completes an Environmental Impact Assessment ; consulting with Statutory Nature Consultation Bodies, including the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Marine Management Organisation, which are key delivery partners of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and will take into account the impact a project may have on the environment within marine protected areas, designated by UK Government and Devolved Administrations under relevant legislation.