Written question asked by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 November 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 November 2021 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Monday, 8 November 2021. A substantive answer was provided by Greg Hands (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 November 2021 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Oil: Shetland

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential environmental impact of the Cambo Oil Field on (a) the surrounding wildlife, (b) achieving net zero emission by 2050 and (c) global temperatures.

Answer: The Cambo oil field was first licensed in 2001. Development proposals for fields with existing licences, such as Cambo, are subject to a rigorous scrutiny process prior to consent by the independent Oil and Gas Authority, as well as an environmental impact assessment and a public consultation by the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning. Any assessment of the environmental impacts associated with the proposed project is in accordance with the Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020. No decision has yet been taken on the Cambo project.

Secondary information