asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the revenue yielded by North Sea oil royalties in 1975–76; and what it is estimated to be in the financial year 1976–77.

North Sea oil royalties yielded £317,507 in 1975–76. I expect that payments of oil royalties in the financial year ending March 1977 will come to about £30 million. These are provisional payments, subject to later adjustments.