Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what their policy is for licensed but undeveloped sites for offshore oil and gas drilling, and whether they plan to implement a moratorium on issuing of development consents for those sites.

Oil and gas will continue to be a key component of Britain’s energy mix. The Government is taking urgent steps to update guidance for industry in response to the Supreme Court’s Finch judgment, which requires developers to assess end use greenhouse gas emissions in Environmental Impact Assessments for new oil and gas projects. Meanwhile, we are deferring the assessment of environmental statements for development consents for offshore oil and gas projects (which have already secured a licence). The Government intends to consult on new guidance shortly, providing clarity to industry, and publish in Spring 2025, when assessments of environmental statements will resume.