Written Question·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·UIN 122610

Offshore Industry: North Sea

Tabled: 20 March 2026

Answered: 30 March 2026

Question

James McMurdock

Independent — South Basildon and East Thurrock

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the impact of restrictions on new North Sea drilling licences on a) domestic energy production and b) the level of reliance on imported oil and gas.

Answer

Michael Shanks

The government has thoroughly assessed the impacts of its policies in the North Sea, as set out in the government’s North Sea Future Plan. Oil and gas production is in natural decline, with a 75% reduction in production occurring between 1999 and 2024. As...

ⓘ

This is an extract from the Parliament API. Search the full answer on Parliament.uk (UIN 122610) →