Dear Sir or Madam,
Thank you for your email of 31 August to the Secretary of State, concerning the Jackdaw and Rosebank projects. I am responding as this matter falls under my Ministerial portfolio.
We are delivering on our ambitious plan to move our electricity system to clean power that we control - breaking our dependence on imported fossil fuels and protecting everyone from future price spikes. The Government is committed to delivering clean power because it gives us energy security, protects households and businesses from global price shocks, helps tackle the climate crisis and creates hundreds of thousands of secure jobs across Britain.
We also published the North Sea Future Plan so that we can manage the North Sea’s transition by supporting the workers and investing in the kind of projects in the long term which will deliver our energy security and good jobs in the industries of the future through reindustrialisation, job creation and training. Our focus is on providing stability and ensuring the North Sea continues to contribute to the UK’s economy and energy security.
Regarding consenting decisions for fields which are already licensed, and in accordance with the offshore environmental impact assessment regulatory regime, the Secretary of State’s decision on whether or not to agree to the grant of consent for a project will be made on the facts of each case. With respect to the Jackdaw and Rosebank projects, since they are each subject to a live regulatory process, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on them.
Thank you again for writing. I hope you find this response helpful.
Best wishes,
MICHAEL SHANKS MP
Minister of State for Energy
