Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of removing the existing cap on variable monetary penalties for offshore oil spills, including to align with the equivalent regulations for onshore oil spills.

The Government keeps the effectiveness of the offshore environmental enforcement regime under review. Removing the cap on variable monetary penalties for offshore oil spills could provide greater flexibility in applying sanctions in the most serious cases. Any penalty must remain proportionate to the circumstances of the case. No decision has been taken to remove the current cap.