Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reconsider the ban on new oil and gas production licences for the North Sea in the light of the conflict in Iran.

The government set out details of how it will deliver on its commitment not to issue further oil and gas licences to explore new fields in the North Sea Future Plan. The government has no intention of reconsidering this.

It typically takes up to 10 years for new licences to explore new fields to lead to production. Any additional supply from such fields would make only a marginal difference to overall production. It would not change the UK’s status as a net importer of oil and gas. It would have no material impact on prices nor on security of supply.