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Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004
05 September 2023
Lead MP
Rosie Winterton
Debate Type
Bill Debate
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 59
At a Glance
Rosie Winterton raised concerns about petroleum licensing (exploration and production) (seaward and landward areas) regulations 2004 in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Established the context for the debate, setting rules for contributions and time management.
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Called to move the new clause. The specific content of his contribution is not detailed.
Ian Paisley Jnr
unknown
unknown
Asked the Minister whether Northern Ireland would benefit from the proposed agreements on renewable liquid fuels. This intervention raised concerns about regional disparities in energy policy.
John Redwood
Con
Wokingham
Interjected to question the Minister about security of supply, particularly concerning non-windy days and reliance on fossil fuels as nuclear power stations close. Highlighted concerns over energy stability and sustainability.
Richard Graham
Con
Gloucester
Requested the Minister's assurance regarding marine energy, particularly tidal range power, in the context of future contracts for difference rounds. Emphasised the importance of marine energy sources around Britain’s coasts.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Supports new clause 1 tabled by himself, highlighting the irony that despite substantial power generation from onshore wind in his region, there is still high fuel poverty. Calls for increasing community benefits and widening access to such projects.
Matthew Hancock
Con
East Surrey
Intervenes to support the idea that large-scale infrastructure projects must be located appropriately to ensure local communities benefit from them, referring to a specific development near his constituency.
Angus MacNeil
SNP
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Asks the Minister about heat pumps and targets for installation. Also questions the exclusivity of a community energy fund to England despite energy being reserved.
South West Herts
Welcomes the Minister's response regarding the levy not directly impacting household bills but questions if it might indirectly impact businesses and households through supply chain costs.
Nickie Aiken
Con
City of London and Westminster, North
Requests clarification on heat network systems definitions to include commercial and domestic use in the same building, a common issue in her constituency.
Richard Fuller
Con
North Bedfordshire
Supports new clause 63 for renewable liquid heating fuel obligation, asking the Minister to assure that secondary legislation will come through within 12 months.
David Duguid
Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Supports Government new clauses for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable liquid heating fuel, particularly beneficial to north-east Scotland.
Ian Paisley Jnr
DUP
North Antrim
Asks about the use of renewable liquid fuels in Northern Ireland, given the overreliance on heating oil there.
Chris Grayling
Con
Epsom and Ewell
Requests an assurance that a review will take place to secure investment after consultation is completed, potentially involving Government support at a future fiscal event.
Sally-Ann Hart
SNP
Dumfries and Galloway
Welcomes the new fund for community energy schemes but asks how barriers to accessing local markets will be removed.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Asks about uniformity of standing charges across the UK and raises concerns over domestic insulation programmes cut by the previous government.
Alan Whitehead
Lab
Southampton Test
The Bill lacks clear targets, technical means, and financial plans to achieve decarbonisation goals. Labour proposes new clauses focusing on hydrogen production, sustainable aviation fuel, low-carbon energy in homes, community and local energy projects, delinking renewables and gas prices, onshore wind development, and a national plan for warmer homes and businesses.
Caroline Lucas
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Questions Alan Whitehead about ending new oil and gas licences in the North Sea to align with decarbonisation targets. Asks if Labour supports amending the MER rule for maximising economic recovery of petroleum.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Critiques the Government and Labour Party for failing to disclose costs associated with decarbonisation measures, such as property energy efficiency upgrades and hydrogen levies.
Chris Grayling
Con
Richmond Park
Seeks assurance that Labour supports developing sustainable aviation fuel in their manifesto to secure necessary investment for the industry.
Angus MacNeil
SNP
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Encourages both sides of the House to address energy legislation more frequently and not cram all changes into one bill every decade.
John Redwood
Con
Wokingham
Asks for advice on making electric cars and heat pumps more affordable to encourage adoption as part of the energy transition.
Barnsley Central
Supports new clause 53, arguing that local grids should positively engage with small-scale and community electricity suppliers to encourage their integration.
John Hayes
Con
South Holland and The Deepings
Defends the decision to ban onshore wind development, arguing that it spurred growth in offshore wind which has several advantages over its onshore counterpart.
Anna McMorrin
Lab
Cardiff North
Supports new clause 53 and notes that lack of investment in onshore wind is costing families £182 annually.
John Redwood
Con
Wokingham
Intervened to ask Mr. Sharma about the need for gas turbine stations as backup when wind does not generate power.
Angus MacNeil
SNP
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Acknowledged the efforts to support onshore wind but questioned whether bill payers would see direct benefits under the proposed changes, suggesting a need for reform in how profits from renewable energy are distributed.
Maria Miller
Con
Guildford
Intervened to discuss her new clause 37 regarding lithium ion battery storage facilities, advocating for proper permitting to ensure these installations are located appropriately and complement onshore wind deployment.
Angus MacNeil
SNP
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
MacNeil intervened to point out that before Hinkley Point was commissioned, there were questions about whether a mix of green energy could provide baseload instead of nuclear. He suggested that prescribing nuclear is a way for the Government to quickly make and print money.
Nigel Evans
Conservative Party
Cannock Chase
Evans briefly interjected to inform the House of a four-minute time limit on Back Benchers' speeches starting from that point. He also allowed another MP, Angus MacNeil, to intervene.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
She argues that the use of forced labour undermines UK's energy security, contradicts ethical values, and poses commercial risks. She provides statistics showing 40% of all solar built in the UK is affected by Uyghur slave labour, with 45% of polysilicon and solar panels worldwide made using such practices. She emphasises the need for transparency to deter companies from using slave labour.
David Davis
Con
Goole and Pocklington
He intervenes to support the clause, noting that individual solar projects take up large amounts of land in his constituency and have a significant impact on local communities. He suggests the current clause may not go far enough.
Siobhan Baillie
Con
Stroud
She intervenes to highlight that solar farms exacerbate food security issues and cause local farmers to lose their land. She calls for strong Government guidance on such projects.
John Hayes
Con
South Holland and The Deepings
He intervenes, stressing that solar panels should be placed on buildings rather than land used for food production. He emphasises the importance of balancing energy security with food security.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
He intervenes to support the clause, adding that countries using forced labour gain a commercial advantage. He warns against becoming dependent on such countries for energy sources.
Mick Whitley
Con
Stroud
He supports new clause 51, advocating for the development of tidal range power as a renewable and indigenous source. He highlights the potential of UK’s tides to generate clean energy and calls for an independent study into the opportunities and risks of tidal range generation.
George Eustice
Con
Camborne and Redruth
Supports Government new clause 63, extending renewable transport fuel obligation to cover domestic heating fuels for off-grid properties. Welcomes Minister's commitment to consultation on the issue.
Nadia Whittome
Lab
Nottingham East
Supports new clause 35, advocating funding for decarbonising homes, addressing climate crisis and improving quality of life. Emphasises need for consistent long-term funding to retrofit homes.
Craig Mackinlay
Con
Havant
Strongly opposes the Bill, particularly clause 152(4) and clause 248. Concerned about increased rights and powers of unknown inspectors entering premises and creation of criminal offences leading to imprisonment for up to 12 months for non-compliance with future energy performance regulations.
Caroline Lucas
Green
Brighton, Pavilion
Lucas highlights the need for drastic measures against oil and gas exploration to align with net zero targets. She emphasises the scientific consensus that new fossil fuel extraction is incompatible with climate goals and criticises the government's continued support for these industries despite clear warnings from experts.
Chris Skidmore
Con
Nationwide
Skidmore supports the bill but urges going further with amendments. He argues that new oil and gas fields will become stranded assets, emphasising the economic benefits of speeding up the energy transition towards renewables.
Clive Lewis
Lab
Norwich South
Lewis proposes a national energy guarantee to tackle fuel poverty and incentivize decarbonisation. He argues that current pricing systems disproportionately benefit wealthy households while leaving millions in debt. His amendment aims to protect essential energy needs, reduce bills for most people, and encourage energy-saving measures.
David Duguid
Con
Banff and Buchan
Welcomed a project in his constituency which will support 21,000 jobs. Questioned the necessity of an economic licence beyond existing regulations for carbon storage projects. Highlighted environmental impacts on fishing due to offshore wind and proposed statutory payments from developers.
Wera Hobhouse
Lib Dem
Bath
Supports new clauses aiming to ban fracking permanently, enhance rewards for solar power through smart export guarantees, prohibit prepayment metres unless explicitly requested by consumers, and reduce methane emissions in oil and gas extraction.
Richard Drax
Con
South Dorset
Expressed concern about the rushed nature of government policy on carbon emissions reduction. Argued that practical consequences have not been adequately considered, such as affordability and reliability of renewable energy sources. Highlighted issues with electric cars including cost, infrastructure readiness, and battery sourcing from unethical practices.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Sheffield Hallam
Supported amendments that would make energy more affordable and secure for constituents. Criticised the current Bill for not addressing fuel poverty, failing to include measures on energy efficiency, and not adequately phasing out fossil fuels. Emphasised the importance of rapid decarbonisation.
Andrea Leadsom
Con
South Northamptonshire
Praised the Bill for its commitment to phasing out coal and expanding renewable energy. Proposed a new clause to facilitate easier construction of electricity pylons and cabling along major transport routes to meet decarbonisation targets.
Tonia Antoniazzi
Lab
Gower
Antoniazzis expresses concerns about the high cost of installing heat pumps, particularly for off-grid rural homeowners. She argues that a heat pump-only approach risks burdening these communities with expensive installation costs and may increase energy bills to unnecessarily high levels. Antoniazzi suggests renewable liquid fuels as a cheaper alternative, highlighting their potential to reduce emissions by up to 90% at a small cost.
Redwood worries that the legislation may antagonise people due to its restrictive nature and threatens of civil/criminal penalties. He advocates for better persuasion rather than forceful measures, suggesting market solutions instead of legislative compulsion. Redwood also emphasises the need for affordable and available energy alongside environmental considerations, criticising overreliance on wind farms. He questions the practicality and cost-effectiveness of current renewable technologies like heat pumps.
Paisley expresses concerns about the high costs associated with transitioning to heat pumps, particularly for constituents in Northern Ireland who rely on solid fuels. He highlights the importance of supporting a variety of heating technologies and avoiding an overreliance on any single technology. Paisley also raises environmental concerns regarding battery disposal and questions the practicality of banning fossil fuel appliances.
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Con
North East Somerset
Critiques the size and complexity of the bill, advocating for amendments to reduce costs and regulatory burdens on constituents. Expresses concerns over specific clauses like the hydrogen levy, warrantless entry into homes, smart appliance regulations, and criminalisation penalties.
Alex Cunningham
Lab
Stockton North
Supports new clause 12 on flaring and venting emissions, highlighting industry concerns. Advocates for timely grid connections to the Teesworks site and urges quicker consultations under new clause 52. Emphasises the need for a price stability mechanism under new clause 34.
Chris Grayling
Con
Epsom and Ewell
Supports his new clause 34, advocating for timely development of sustainable aviation fuel. Highlights the importance of investor confidence in the industry's future.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Questions the rush to electric vehicles, highlighting alternatives like hydrogen combustion. Raises concerns about reliance on China for rare earth metals and warns against disrupting steel manufacturing with rapid transitions.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Supports new clause 48, citing concerns about the scale and impact of industrial-scale solar farms on agricultural land in her constituency. She provides statistics highlighting the extent of proposed solar projects and raises issues around food security and lack of thorough consultation with local communities.
Supports the overall Bill but expresses concerns about new clause 48, focusing on the importance of strategic infrastructure development, private sector investment, and rural-proofing policies. He welcomes initiatives like the £10 million community energy fund.
Supports lifting the ban on new onshore wind farms but does not directly address new clause 48. He discusses how public opinion towards wind turbines has shifted over time, citing an example from his constituency.
Jerome Mayhew
Con
Broadland and Fakenham
Opposes new clause 29 which seeks to prevent further licences of North Sea oil and gas. Argues that continuing domestic extraction is more environmentally friendly, economically beneficial, and supports the transition to renewables.
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
The Minister supports the bill's proposed energy efficiency measures, emphasising that they are necessary to replace EU powers lost due to Brexit. He assures concerned Members about the safety measures regarding lithium-ion battery storage systems.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
The Member supports new clause 47, which aims to sanction companies involved in slave labour practices. She is interested in the Government's stance on potential sanctions against such entities.
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