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 effect on wildlife of extending the Corallian ENSCO-72 oil rig drilling period in Poole bay.

Extensions to the Colter appraisal well environmental approvals were requested because of weather delays during drilling operations at the rig’s previous location and during the tow to the Poole Bay site.

The relevant environmental consultees, Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation and the Environment Agency, were consulted in relation to the proposed extensions. The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), is content that there are no sustainable objections to the proposals and that the extensions would not result in any significant environmental impact.