Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of rejecting proposals to develop the Rosebank oil field in favour of investment of renewable, reliable, and affordable energy sources.
Development proposals for oil fields are dealt with by the North Sea Transition Authority and the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning, in line with their regulatory responsibilities.
Development of oil, gas and renewables projects are not mutually exclusive. In the British Energy Security Strategy the Government highlighted the ongoing requirement for oil and gas – for heating, cooking, transport, and industries – and the need to develop affordable, renewable energy sources to ensure the UK's domestic energy security.