asked the Secretary of State for Energy what it costs to produce one barrel of oil in the North Sea from developed fields at current prices; and what is the estimated cost of oil from fields awaiting development.

Average production costs, including capital and operating costs, and interest, but excluding all taxes and royalty, in the commercial fields, have been estimated to lie within the range $2 to $7 per barrel in 1975 constant prices. It is not possible to give the cost of fields for which development plans have not yet been submitted to the Department.