asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there has been any activity recently with regard to oil or gas exploration in the Celtic Sea area; and what are the prospects of now finding substantial reserves in the British sector.

In addition to survey work, six exploration wells have been drilled in the Celtic Sea off the Welsh and North Devon coasts; results of this activity have been disappointing. However, further survey work and two stratigraphic boreholes recently drilled for the Department in an area farther south in the South-Western Approaches have been encouraging and give grounds for optimism that oil and gas may be present there.