Downing Street Defends North Sea Gas Field Announcement After Speaker's Rebuke

Downing Street has pushed back against House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who criticized the government for announcing plans to greenlight drilling in the North Sea to the media before presenting a statement to Parliament. Sir Lindsay rebuked ministers on Wednesday, stating that the practice of revealing such plans to the press before informing MPs was "simply not good enough."

The Speaker specifically criticized Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh for leaving her deputy, Michael Shanks, to answer questions in the House of Commons. This occurred after Ms. Fahnbulleh had already appeared on television in Aberdeen to announce the government's decision to approve drilling in the Jackdaw gas field.

A spokesperson for Downing Street defended the timing of the announcement on Thursday, asserting that it is "long-standing practice" for successive governments to reveal commercially sensitive plans in this manner. The spokesperson explained that announcing such information early in the morning, before markets open, ensures that potential market impacts are managed in a "fair and orderly way."

"It is not unusual for commercially sensitive announcements to remain public early in the morning before markets are open, and this ensures announcements that could potentially have a market impact are announced in a fair and orderly way, rather than igniting while markets are trading," the spokesperson said. The office added that Parliament was informed via a written statement before the oral statement to MPs, and that "nothing was briefed in advance of this."

The government further stated that this practice "doesn't detract from the importance that we place on our duties to Parliament, which we will continue to uphold and take seriously."

The decision to approve drilling in the Jackdaw gas field comes after months of deliberation. The field is expected to increase domestic gas production by approximately 6% at its peak, secure hundreds of jobs, and provide an estimated £2.9 billion economic boost. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh highlighted the importance of homegrown energy amidst ongoing global energy shocks, particularly in light of conflict in the Middle East.

Sir Lindsay had expressed concern that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero might be "deliberately briefing out to the media." Gas from the Jackdaw field, located 150 miles east of Aberdeen, is anticipated to begin supplying homes and businesses by the end of the month.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the decision would "protect hundreds of jobs and help keep millions of homes warm this winter." In contrast, the government is reportedly "minded to reject" drilling in the Rosebank oil field, another significant North Sea prospect. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero described this as speculation, emphasizing that each project is assessed on its individual merits.