Fossil Energy – Legislation UK
Government legislation designed to maximise North Sea oil and gas production has been delayed to avoid it being rushed through its first stage in 45 minutes.
The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill would require the industry regulator to run annual rounds for new oil and gas licences, subject to stringent new emissions and imports tests.
It was due to receive its second reading on Monday evening, but additional Commons business – including lengthy exchanges on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the Horizon scandal – meant MPs would have been left with little more than 45 minutes to debate it.
Marcus Jones, the Government’s deputy chief whip, told the Commons: “The urgent question today and the statements have run for significantly longer than anticipated. The Horizon statement has rightly been given significant time today which is right given the seriousness and the gravity of the issue. The second reading of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill will therefore not take place this evening. This is a significant piece of legislation, it is crucial to the UK’s energy security, which cannot be properly debated between now and 10 o’clock. The Leader (Penny Mordaunt) will update the House in the usual way on the date that the Bill will be rescheduled for, however I fully expect this to be within the next two weeks.”
Tory former cabinet minister Alok Sharma earlier said he would not support the Bill, describing it as a “smoke and mirrors” exercise which reinforces the perception that the UK is “rowing back from climate action”.
Currently licensing rounds are run when the North Sea Transition Authority decides it is necessary.
The government claims the introduction of regular licensing for exploration will increase certainty, investor confidence and make the UK more energy-independent.
The legislation has already triggered the resignation of former net zero tsar Chris Skidmore as a Tory MP.
Sharma, who was president of the international Cop26 climate summit hosted by the UK, said the Bill is a total distraction and a smoke and mirrors Bill which frankly changes nothing except to further damage the UK’s international reputation on climate action.
