Written question asked by Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party) on Friday, 22 April 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 May 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 May 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government who can give permission for oil exploration in the waters off the Falkland Islands.

Answer: Oil exploration in the Falkland Islands is governed by the Falkland Islands Offshore Minerals Ordinance of 1994. Subject to this Ordinance, and with the consent of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Hammond), the Rt Hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge, the British Government appointed Governor of the Falkland Islands may, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, grant to any person a licence for the purposes of exploration or production in the controlled waters, or in the sea-bed or subsoil thereof, of the Falkland Islands.

Secondary information