Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Wood of Anfield on 1 October (HL3718, HL3719, and HL3721), whether the Foreign Secretary has consented to the Sea Lion Northern Oil field development as set out in the Offshore Minerals Ordinance 1994 (Ordinance No.16, 1994).

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 1 October in response to Question HL3718, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK Government maintains a consistent position on the right of the Falkland Islands to develop their natural resources. It is integral to their right of self-determination, which this Government will resolutely uphold. Any new hydrocarbons licences require the consent of the Secretary of State, who acts in accordance with applicable Falkland Islands legislation, we do not comment on individual licences.