Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many offshore oil and gas installations in the UK sector of the North Sea have been granted exemptions from full removal under OSPAR Decision 98/3 since 2000; and on what grounds these exemptions were approved.

Since 2000 there have been 7 derogations (exemptions) approved under the procedures set out under OSPAR Decision 98/3. Following an assessment of options and national and international consultations, HM Government was satisfied that leave in situ was the most appropriate solution on balance considering safety risks, environmental impact, technical feasibility, and economic and societal effects.

Details of all derogations are available via OSPAR’s public Inventory of Offshore Installations website.