To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to make a decision on oil licensing in (a) Cardigan Bay and (b) the Moray Firth following the results of the appropriate assessments; and how those decisions will be made public. (209963)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will make decisions on oil or gas licensing in Cardigan Bay and the Moray Firth once my officials have had the opportunity to consider the comments received from the consultation exercise carried out earlier this year. He is not yet in a position to give a definite date.

The decisions will be made public in the normal way by announcing them on BERR’s oil and gas website.