To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of oil and gas production in the United Kingdom continental shelf between 1990 and 1994.

Forecasts for oil production during this period are set out in the report to Parliament of April 1990 "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom". Gas production will depend on many factors, but I expect it to grow strongly over this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made in reducing the number of fallow blocks on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made in reducing the number of fallow blocks on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

The number of fallow blocks, which stood at 125 at the beginning of 1989, had fallen to 88 blocks at the beginning of this year. Fourteen of these had been drilled or surrendered by the end of June. I am keeping in touch with operators and it is clear from their plans that progress will quicken during the second half of 1990, and that by the end of the year the number of fallow blocks will have fallen very substantially.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of oil production in the current year on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of oil production in the current year on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

Total oil production in the first five months of 1990 was some 40·4 million tonnes. I expect production in the full year to be near the 1989 level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of oil and gas production on the United Kingdom continental shelf between 1990 and 1994.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) today.