Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their policy to issue no new oil and gas exploration licences on UK energy import dependency.

North Sea oil and gas production is in natural decline, with a 75 per cent reduction in production occurring between 1999 and 2024.

While we will manage existing oil and gas fields for their lifespan, the government will not issue licences to explore new fields which would only make a marginal difference to overall production.

The UK became a net importer of energy over two decades ago in 2004.

Given the maturity of the basin, further licensing would not reverse its natural decline, nor change the UK’s status as a net importer of oil and gas.