Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the new oil and gas licensing round does not damage protected marine habitats.

The North Sea Transition Authority holds offshore oil and gas licensing rounds. As part of the licensing round process, the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning will undertake the assessments required by the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001 (Habitats Regulations assessments) to determine if the activities proposed could have an adverse effect on the integrity of a relevant site. Licences will only be awarded after such Habitats Regulations assessments.