To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral answer of 5 March 2009, Official Report, columns 980-81, what discussions he has had with industry representatives on the effect of phase 3 of the European Emission Trading Scheme on the attractiveness of the UK continental shelf to global oil and gas investors. [R] (262301)

The impact of phase III of the EU emission trading system (EU ETS) on the UK upstream oil and gas industry was discussed at the PILOT meeting on 10 February 2009 which was chaired by the Secretary of State of Energy and Climate Change. The meeting was attended by representatives of the oil and gas industry, including Oil and Gas UK. Officials from the Department of Energy and Climate Change are continuing to work with Oil and Gas UK and individual companies to analyse the impacts of phase III of the EU ETS on the sector.