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 impact of the new oil and gas licensing round in the North Sea on the UK's (a) international climate obligations and (b) net-zero target.

The North Sea Transition Authority plans to launch another licensing round later this year, taking into account the forthcoming climate compatibility checkpoint.

The climate compatibility checkpoint will be used to assess whether any future licensing rounds remain in keeping with the UK’s climate goals.

The Government invited contributions on the design of the checkpoint with a public consultation, which closed at the end of February. The Government is currently considering the responses to the consultation, and will respond in due course.