Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Middle East Conflict: Energy Security

Tuesday 24 March 2026 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Murray raised concerns about UK energy security due to reliance on Middle East oil and gas, suggesting a reduction in North Sea drilling.
  • The Minister disagreed with expanding North Sea oil and gas exploration, emphasizing existing fields will be used for their lifetime without significant new drilling.
  • Ministers stressed the need for home-grown clean renewables and dismissed calls for increased North Sea oil and gas exploration as offering no long-term energy security solution.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Murray Lab Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Climate Energy
Context

Concerns about the Middle East conflict impacting UK's energy security, given reliance on fossil fuels.

Question

I am concerned about our energy security being exposed to events in the Middle East because we have relied on oil and gas for too long. Not only do fossil fuels cause climate change, but buying them on the open market exposes us to price volatility. No further drilling in the North Sea would help mitigate prices. The only true path to energy security is through renewables and nuclear power.

Answer from Ed Miliband

The North Sea will continue to play an important role in our energy mix for decades. We have the largest nuclear building programme in half a century, two record-breaking renewables auctions, and we recently announced that we will bring forward our next renewables auction to July.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or timeline for transitioning away from fossil fuels was not provided

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Q2 Chris Murray Lab Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Economy Employment Energy
Context

Concerns about the UK economy, jobs and tax receipts due to recent oil price increases.

Question

Given the recent jump in oil prices, would it not be good for the UK economy, jobs and Government's tax receipts to maximise drilling for North sea oil as Norway does?

Answer from Ed Miliband

I disagree with the right hon. Lady on that one. We will use existing North sea oil and gas fields for their lifetime, including tiebacks announced last autumn. Exploration licences make no material difference to production levels.

Answered
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Q3 Esther McVey Con Tatton
Foreign Affairs Energy
Context

Concerns about the impact of Middle East conflict on oil prices affecting families in rural Britain.

Question

In rural and coastal Britain, there is deep worry among families about the effect of the conflict in the Middle East on oil prices. We welcome £53 million to support them but those calling for an expansion of reliance on wholesale oil prices offer no long-term solution to energy security.

Answer from Ed Miliband

My hon. Friend is right. Those people offer no short or long term solution and want to fly in the face of all evidence. The last Government said more UK production of North sea oil and gas would make no difference to global price.

Answered
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Q4 Perran Moon Lab Camborne and Redruth
Energy
Context

Concern about the disparity in gas prices between the United States and the UK.

Question

The Secretary of State has just misled the House. Can he explain why the price of gas in the US is a third of the price in the UK? Is it because the Americans use it domestically?

Answer from Ed Miliband

No, it is not. The idea of more drilling would be precisely the wrong thing for our country because it will make no difference to the price. The answer is home-grown clean renewables that we control.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific reasons for disparity in gas prices between US and UK were not provided

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Q5 Richard Tice Reform Boston and Skegness
Energy
Context

Concern about the Secretary of State's approach to North Sea drilling.

Question

The Secretary of State has just misled the House. Can he explain why the price of gas in the US is a third of the price in the UK? Is it because the Americans use it domestically?

Answer from Ed Miliband

This party and this Government are taking a pragmatic approach to these issues. We are using existing oil and gas fields for their lifetime, including tiebacks, which is welcomed by industry, but we are not going to fly in the face of the evidence.

Answered
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Q6 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Energy Environment
Context

Concern about the Secretary of State's inaction regarding Jackdaw field project.

Question

No other country would deprive itself of vast natural resources. The Jackdaw field alone could provide 250 million barrels of oil equivalent and be up by Christmas but is stuck in limbo because of the Secretary of State's inaction. When will he make a decision?

Answer from Ed Miliband

Before the hon. Gentleman self-combusts, let me tell him that as a result of court decisions, those projects are proceeding at risk. We will make a decision that is legally watertight.

Answered
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Q7 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Energy
Context

Concern about the Secretary of State's adherence to rule of law regarding energy projects.

Question

No other country would deprive itself of vast natural resources. The Jackdaw field alone could provide 250 million barrels of oil equivalent and be up by Christmas but is stuck in limbo because of the Secretary of State's inaction. When will he make a decision?

Answer from Ed Miliband

We will make a decision that is legally watertight. The last Government made series of decisions found against them in court.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific legal framework or timeline for making decision was not provided

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