asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to set up the commission to study the development of associated gas in North Sea oil fields; and if he will indicate its terms of reference, membership and anticipated date of report.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to set up a commission but to comission an independent feasibility study as the previous Secretary of State said in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. Craigen), on 20th May—[Vol. 892, cols. 333–4]. Terms of reference are at present prepared and my right hon. Friend hopes early next month to invite selected consultants to submit tenders. It is too early to forecast the date of the consultants' report.