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 oil and gas licensing round on the UK's (a) carbon budget (b) net zero target and (c) commitments towards international climate targets.

The opening of the most recent licensing round by the North Sea Transition Authority followed the publication of the Climate Compatibility Checkpoint.

The North Sea Transition Deal includes emissions reduction targets consistent with government’s Net Zero Strategy, which establishes the UK pathway for carbon budgets and international targets.