Session 2015-16
Other Public Bills before Parliament
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Energy Bill [HL]
list of Amendments
to be moved
on report
The amendments have been marshalled in accordance with the Order of 19th October 2015, as follows—
| Clauses 1 and 2 Schedule Clauses 3 to 69 Title |
[Amendments marked * are new or have been altered]
Clause 2
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 2, line 19, leave out paragraph (c) and insert—
“( ) for anything done by or in relation to a Minister of the Crown in
connection with any functions transferred to be treated as done, or
to be continued, by or in relation to the OGA, and
( ) about the continuation of legal proceedings.”
Page 2, line 25, after “section” insert “and section (Transfer of property, rights and
liabilities to the OGA)”
After Clause 2
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) The Secretary of State may make one or more transfer schemes transferring
qualifying property, rights and liabilities of a Minister of the Crown to the
OGA.
(2) A scheme made under this section may, in particular, make provision—
(a) for anything done by or in relation to a Minister of the Crown in
connection with any property, rights or liabilities transferred by the
scheme to be treated as done, or to be continued, by or in relation to
the OGA;
(b) for references to a Minister of the Crown in any agreement (whether
written or not), instrument or other document relating to property,
rights or liabilities transferred by the scheme to be treated as
references to the OGA;
(c) about the continuation of legal proceedings;
(d) for transferring property, rights or liabilities which could not
otherwise be transferred or assigned;
(e) for transferring property, rights or liabilities irrespective of any
requirement for consent which would otherwise apply;
(f) for preventing a right of pre-emption, right of reverter, right of
forfeiture, right to compensation or other similar right from arising
or becoming exercisable as a result of the transfer of property, rights
or liabilities;
(g) for dispensing with any formality in relation to the transfer of
property, rights or liabilities by the scheme;
(h) for transferring property acquired, or rights or liabilities arising,
after the scheme is made but before it takes effect;
(i) for apportioning property, rights or liabilities;
(j) for creating rights, or imposing liabilities, in connection with
property, rights or liabilities transferred by the scheme;
(k) for requiring the OGA to enter into any agreement of any kind, or
for a purpose, specified in or determined in accordance with the
scheme.
(3) Subsection (2)(b) does not apply to references in an enactment or a relevant
authorisation.
(4) In this section—
“property” includes interests of any description, and
“qualifying property, rights and liabilities” means property held, and
rights and liabilities arising, in connection with functions which
were functions of a Minister of the Crown and as a result of this Act
have or are to become functions of the OGA, but does not include
rights and liabilities relating to an individual’s employment in the
civil service of the State.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) The Secretary of State may make one or more transfer schemes under
which persons who hold employment in the civil service of the State
become employees of the OGA (but this is subject to any provision
contained in the scheme that allows a person to object to becoming an
employee of the OGA).
(2) A scheme made under this section—
(a) may make provision for giving full effect for a person’s transfer into
the employment of the OGA as a result of the scheme, and
(b) may (in particular) include provision that is the same as, or similar
to, the provision made by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection
of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/246) (whether or not
those regulations would otherwise apply in relation to the
transfer).”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) A scheme made under section (Transfer of property, rights and liabilities to the
OGA) or (Transfer of staff to the OGA) may—
(a) contain incidental, supplementary and consequential provision;
(b) make transitory or transitional provision or savings;
(c) make different provision for different purposes;
(d) make provision subject to exceptions.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Secretary of State may modify a scheme made
under section (Transfer of property, rights and liabilities to the OGA) or
(Transfer of staff to the OGA).
(3) If a transfer under the scheme has taken effect, any modification under
subsection (2) that relates to the transfer may be made only with the
agreement of the person (or persons) affected by the modification.
(4) A modification takes effect from such date as the Secretary of State may
specify; and that date may be the date when the original scheme came into
effect.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) The persons to whom section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972 (persons to
or in respect of whom benefits may be provided by schemes under that
section) applies are to include the employees of the OGA.
(2) Accordingly, in Schedule 1 to that Act (employment to which
superannuation schemes may extend), in the list of other bodies, at the
appropriate place insert—
(3) The employees of the OGA are to be treated for the purposes of paragraph
(1)(b) of regulation 3 of the Public Service (Civil Servants and Others)
Pensions Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1964) as persons—
(a) to whom the scheme established under that regulation may
potentially relate by virtue of paragraph (2) of that regulation, and
(b) in respect of whom the Minister for the Civil Service has made a
determination under section 25(5) of the Public Service Pensions
Act 2013.
(4) The OGA must pay to the Minister for the Civil Service, at such times as the
Minister may direct, such sums as the Minister may determine in respect of
any increase attributable to this section in the sums payable out of money
provided by Parliament under the Superannuation Act 1972 and the Public
Service Pensions Act 2013.”
The Schedule
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 41, line 4, at end insert—
“Energy Act 1976
A1 The Energy Act 1976 is amended as follows.
A2 (1) Section 12 (disposal of gas by flaring, etc) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (2) insert—
“(2A) Disposal of gas by flaring, or by releasing it unignited into the
atmosphere, does not require consent under this section if
consent—
(a) is required under section 12A (disposal of gas by flaring
etc: OGA’s functions), or
(b) would be required under that section but for subsection
(3) of that section.”
(3) At the end of the heading insert “: Secretary of State’s functions”.
A3 After section 12 insert—
“12A Disposal of gas by flaring, etc: OGA’s functions
(1) The OGA’s consent is required for natural gas to be disposed of
(whether at source or elsewhere)—
(a) by flaring, or by releasing it unignited into the
atmosphere, from anything that for the purposes of
section 82(1) of the Energy Act 2011 is a relevant oil
processing facility or a relevant gas processing facility, or
(b) by releasing it unignited into the atmosphere in
connection with activities carried out under a licence
granted under—
(i) section 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998, or
(ii) section 2 of the Petroleum (Production) Act 1934.
(2) This section applies to all natural gas of the United Kingdom,
whether obtained there or in territorial waters, or in areas
designated under the Continental Shelf Act 1964, except gas
conveyed through pipes to premises by a gas transporter within
the meaning of Part 1 of the Gas Act 1986.
(3) Disposal of gas does not require consent under this section if—
(a) it is necessary in order to reduce or avoid the risk of injury
to any person,
(b) the risk could not reasonably have been foreseen in time
to reduce or avoid it otherwise than by means of the
disposal, and
(c) it was not reasonably practicable to obtain consent under
this section in the time available.
(4) A person who disposes of gas in cases where the consent of the
OGA would have been required but for subsection (3) must
inform the OGA of that disposal as soon as practicable after the
disposal takes place.
(5) The OGA’s consent under this section—
(a) may be given only by reference to particular cases, and
(b) may be made subject to conditions which may, in
particular, be framed by reference to the description or
origin of the gas, or the quantities to be disposed of.
12B Sanctions for failure to comply with section 12A
(1) The requirements imposed by subsections (1) and (4) of section
12A are to be treated for the purposes of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of the
Energy Act 2016 (power of the OGA to impose sanctions) as
petroleum-related requirements.
(2) But the OGA may not give an enforcement notice, a revocation
notice or an operator removal notice under that Chapter by
virtue of this section.”
A4 (1) Section 18 (administration, enforcement and offences) is amended as
follows.
(2) In subsection (2)(a), for “9 and 12” substitute “9, 12 and 12A”.
(3) In subsection (3)—
(a) in paragraph (a), for “9 or 12” substitute “9, 12 or 12A”, and
(b) in paragraph (b), after “Secretary of State” insert “or the OGA”.
A5 In section 21 (interpretation), after the definition of “natural gas” insert—
““the OGA” means the Oil and Gas Authority;”.”
Page 41, line 10, at end insert—
“( ) in paragraph (b), omit the words from “to the extent” to the end,”
Page 41, line 14, at end insert—
“3A After section 9B insert—
(1) The Secretary of State must act in accordance with the current
strategy or strategies when exercising the functions mentioned in
subsection (2).
(2) Those functions are functions under Part 4 to the extent that they
concern reduction of the costs of abandonment of offshore
installations and submarine pipelines (including the reduction of
such costs by means of the timing of measures proposed in
abandonment programmes and by the inclusion in such
programmes of provision for collaboration with other
persons).””
Clause 3
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 3, line 11, at end insert—
“(3) The Welsh Ministers may enter into an agreement with the OGA
authorising the OGA to exercise any functions of the Welsh Ministers.
(4) The reference in subsection (3) to functions does not include functions of
making, confirming or approving subordinate legislation contained in a
statutory instrument.
(5) An agreement under subsection (3) does not affect the responsibility of the
Welsh Ministers.
(6) An agreement under subsection (3) does not prevent the Welsh Ministers
from exercising a function to which the agreement relates.
(7) The Welsh Ministers must arrange for a copy of any agreement under
subsection (3) to be published in such manner as the Welsh Ministers
consider appropriate for bringing it to the attention of the persons who, in
the Welsh Ministers’ opinion, are likely to be affected by it.”
After Clause 3
BARONESS WORTHINGTON
LORD TEVERSON
Insert the following new Clause—
In section 9A(1) of the Petroleum Act 1998 (the principal objective and the
strategy), for “recovery of UK petroleum” substitute “return of UK
petroleum, while retaining oversight of the decommissioning of oil and gas
infrastructure, and securing its re-use for transportation and storage of
greenhouse gases”.”
Clause 4
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 3, line 20, at end insert—
“Storage of carbon dioxide
The development and use of facilities for the storage of carbon dioxide, and
of anything else (including, in particular, pipelines) needed in connection
with the development and use of such facilities, and how that may assist
the Secretary of State to meet the target in section 1 of the Climate Change
Act 2008.”
BARONESS WORTHINGTON
LORD GRANTCHESTER
Page 3, line 20, at end insert—
“Environmental consideration and climate change
(none) The need for the OGA to address environmental considerations and to
facilitate the fulfilment of the duty in section 1 of the Climate Change Act
2008 in relation to relevant activities.”
Page 3, line 27, at end insert—
“Matters relating to decommissioning
(none) The need for the re-use of viable North Sea infrastructure for carbon
capture and storage projects to be considered prior to the decommissioning
of such sites.”
LORD WALLACE OF TANKERNESS
LORD TEVERSON
BARONESS MADDOCK
Page 3, line 30, at end insert—
“Climate change
(none) “The need to consider the impacts of climate change in the United
Kingdom and overseas.”
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 3, line 32, leave out “does not include any” and insert “means any function of
the OGA, including any function under Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2008
(storage of carbon dioxide), other than a”
Page 3, line 34, at end insert “or an agreement under section 3(3).”
LORD WALLACE OF TANKERNESS
LORD TEVERSON
BARONESS MADDOCK
Page 3, line 40, after “security” insert—
“( ) are necessary to meet the target in section 1 of the Climate Change
Act 2008 (carbon target and budgeting),”
Clause 5
BARONESS WORTHINGTON
LORD GRANTCHESTER
Page 3, line 41, at end insert—
“( ) Directions given under subsection (1) may require the OGA to postpone or
prohibit decommissioning of oil or gas infrastructure until such time as the
Secretary of State determines that a carbon capture and storage operator is
in position to utilise the infrastructure.”
Clause 7
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 5, line 10, leave out subsections (3) and (4) and insert—
“(3) The Secretary of State may use protected material only for the purpose for
which it is provided.
(4) Protected material must not be disclosed—
(a) by the Secretary of State, or
(b) by a subsequent holder,
except in accordance with this section.
(5) For the purposes of subsection (4)(b), “subsequent holder”, in relation to
protected material, means a person who receives protected material
directly or indirectly from the Secretary of State by virtue of a disclosure,
or disclosures, in accordance with this section.
(6) Subsection (4) does not prohibit the Secretary of State from disclosing
protected material so far as necessary for the purpose for which it was
provided.
(7) Subsection (4) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected material if—
(a) the disclosure is required by virtue of an obligation imposed by or
under any Act, or
(b) the OGA consents to the disclosure and, in a case where the
protected material in question was provided to the OGA by or on
behalf of another person, confirms that that person also consents to
the disclosure.”
After Clause 7
LORD WALLACE OF TANKERNESS
LORD TEVERSON
BARONESS MADDOCK
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) In order to retain the operability of infrastructure assets that are critical to
the nation the OGA shall identify and report to the Secretary of State when
the OGA is of the opinion that any element of critical oil and gas
infrastructure is at risk, whether due to the financial condition of the
owner, or any other reason.
(2) When the OGA has made a report under subsection (1), the Secretary of
State may provide financial support to maintain such assets if he or she
considers that—
(a) the asset is at risk of closure or inoperability; and
(b) it is in the national interest for the asset to be retained in operational
order.”
Clause 8
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 5, line 27, at end insert—
“( ) on an application made to it under section 12A of the Energy Act
1976;”
Page 6, line 16, at end insert—
“( ) The OGA may not charge fees under this section for the exercise of any
function which it is authorised to exercise by virtue of—
(a) an order under section 69 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out
Act 1994, or
(b) an agreement under section 3(3).”
Clause 9
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 6, line 37, after “exceed” insert “the sum of—”
Page 6, line 38, at end insert—
“( ) the costs incurred in respect of that period by the Lord Chancellor
in connection with the provision of Tribunals to consider appeals
against decisions of the OGA, and”
After Clause 11
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) The Secretary of State must review the OGA’s performance for each review
period.
(2) The first review period—
(a) begins with the day on which section 1 comes into force, and
7
(b) ends at the end of the three year period beginning with that day, or
on such earlier day as the Secretary of State may determine.
(3) Subsequent review periods—
(a) begin with the day (“the first day”) after the last day of the
preceding review period,
12
(b) end at the end of the three year period beginning with the first day,
or on such earlier day as the Secretary of State may determine.
(4) A review must, in particular—
(a) assess how effective the OGA has been in exercising its functions,
and
(b) consider the OGA’s functions under—
(i) Part 2, and
(ii) Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2008 (storage of carbon
dioxide),
with regard to their fitness for purpose and scope.
(5) As soon as practicable after a review period, the Secretary of State must—
(a) publish a report of the findings of the review for that period, and
(b) lay a copy of the report before Parliament.
(6) As a result of the findings of a review, the Secretary of State may give
guidance to the OGA about any matter relating to the OGA’s functions.
(7) The OGA must take account of any such guidance in carrying out its
functions.
(8) For the purposes of this section “function” does not include any function
which the OGA is authorised to exercise by virtue of—
(a) an order under section 69 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out
Act 1994, or
(b) an agreement under section 3(3).”
BARONESS WORTHINGTON
LORD OXBURGH
[Amendments 27 and 28 are amendments to Amendment 26]
Line 7, leave out “three” and insert “one”
Line 12, leave out “three” and insert “one”
Clause 12
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 9, line 15, leave out paragraph (d)
Page 9, line 24, at end insert—
“(6) Chapter 6 makes provision about the disclosure of information and
samples which have been obtained by the OGA under this Part.”
Clause 16
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 11, line 44, leave out from “parties” to “in” in line 45 and insert—
“(a) under subsection (5)(a), or
(b) by directions under subsection (5)(b),
are sanctionable”
Clause 18
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 12, line 32, leave out “Directions given by the OGA to relevant parties” and
insert “Requirements imposed by directions”
Clause 21
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Leave out Clause 21
Clause 23
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 15, line 17, at end insert—
“(2) In this Chapter, “petroleum-related information” and “petroleum-related
samples” include information or samples acquired or created as mentioned
in subsection (1) which are relevant to activities carried out under a carbon
dioxide storage licence.
(3) In subsection (2) “carbon dioxide storage licence” means a licence granted
under section 18 of the Energy Act 2008.”
Clause 29
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 17, line 36, after “licensee” insert “or to a person holding a carbon dioxide
storage licence”
Page 17, line 37, at end insert—
“( ) An information and samples plan prepared by the OGA under section
27(4) may not include provision under subsection (1)(b) for the transfer of
information or samples to another person without the consent of the
responsible person.”
Page 17, line 37, at end insert—
“( ) Where an information and samples plan makes provision under subsection
(1) for a person, other than the responsible person, to hold information or
samples in accordance with the plan—
(a) the plan may, with the consent of that other person, impose
requirements on that person in connection with the information
and samples, and
(b) any such requirements are sanctionable in accordance with Chapter
5.”
Page 18, line 5, at end insert—
“( ) In subsection (1)(b) “carbon dioxide storage licence” means a licence
granted under section 18 of the Energy Act 2008.”
Clause 30
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 18, line 10, after “objective” insert “or which relate to activities carried out
under a carbon dioxide storage licence”
Page 18, line 30, at end insert—
“( ) In subsection (1) “carbon dioxide storage licence” means a licence granted
under section 18 of the Energy Act 2008.”
Clause 31
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Leave out Clause 31
Clause 32
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Leave out Clause 32
Clause 39
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Leave out Clause 39
Clause 42
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 25, line 16, leave out “Directions” and insert “Requirements imposed by
directions”
Clause 43
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 25, line 28, leave out from “notice” to end of line 30 and insert “, in a case
where it is appropriate to require such compliance and the failure to comply with
the requirement has not already been remedied at the time the notice is given, and”
Page 25, leave out lines 34 and 35 and insert “end of the period of 28 days
beginning with the day on which the financial penalty notice was given.”
Clause 46
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 26, line 24, leave out subsection (2) and insert—
“( ) A revocation notice may be given only in respect of a failure to comply with
a petroleum-related requirement imposed on a licensee in that capacity.”
Page 26, line 34, leave out from “period” to end of line 36 and insert “of 28 days
beginning with the day on which the revocation notice was given.”
Page 26, line 36, at end insert—
“( ) A revocation notice may not be given in circumstances where the licence to
be revoked in accordance with the notice is one which, on the date the
notice is given, the OGA would not have the power to grant.”
Page 26, line 38, leave out from “notice” to end of line 42 and insert—
“(a) the rights granted to the person by the licence cease on the
revocation date;
(b) the revocation does not affect any obligation or liability imposed on
or incurred by the person under the terms and conditions of the
licence;
(c) the terms and conditions of the licence apply as if the licence had
been revoked in accordance with those terms and conditions,
subject to section 55(2).”
Page 27, line 6, leave out “respect of” and insert “relation to”
Clause 47
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 27, line 12, leave out subsection (2) and insert—
“( ) An operator removal notice may be given only in respect of a failure to
comply with a petroleum-related requirement imposed on an operator
under a petroleum licence in that capacity.”
Page 27, line 30, leave out from “period” to end of line 32 and insert “of 28 days
beginning with the day on which the operator removal notice was given.”
Page 27, line 32, at end insert—
“( ) An operator removal notice may not be given in circumstances where the
licence under which the operator operates is one which, on the date the
notice is given, the OGA would not have the power to grant.”
Clause 49
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 28, line 41, leave out subsection (2)
Page 28, line 44, leave out “in respect of the appeal” and insert “to confirm, vary or
cancel the notice.”
Page 28, line 44, at end insert—
“( ) Where, on an appeal made in relation to a sanction notice—
(a) the Tribunal makes a decision to confirm or vary the notice, and
(b) an appeal is or may be made in relation to that decision,
the Tribunal, or the Upper Tribunal, may further suspend the effect of the
notice pending a decision which disposes of proceedings on such an
appeal.”
Clause 51
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 30, line 18, leave out from “decision” to end of line 22 and insert “to revoke a
licence or to require the removal of an operator the Tribunal may—
(a) confirm the decision,
(b) vary the decision by changing the revocation date or the removal
date, as the case may be, or
(c) quash the decision, and
confirm, vary or cancel the sanction notice in question accordingly.”
Clause 53
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 31, line 2, at end insert—
“( ) If the sanction notice given is a financial penalty notice which does not
require compliance with the petroleum-related requirement, no further
sanction notices may be given in respect of the failure to comply.”
Page 31, line 3, leave out “an enforcement notice or a financial penalty notice” and
insert—
“(a) an enforcement notice, or
(b) a financial penalty notice which requires compliance with the
petroleum-related requirement.”
Clause 58
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Leave out Clause 58
After Clause 60
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Insert the following new Clause—
“6 Disclosure
General prohibition
Protected material must not be disclosed—
(a) by the OGA, or
(b) by a subsequent holder,
except in accordance with this Chapter.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) In this Chapter “protected material” means information or samples which
have been obtained by the OGA under this Part.
(2) In this Chapter—
“original owner”, in relation to protected material provided to the
OGA under this Part, means the person by or on whose behalf, the
protected material was so provided;
“subsequent holder”, in relation to protected material, means a person
holding protected material who has received it directly or indirectly
from the OGA by virtue of a disclosure, or disclosures, in
accordance with this Chapter.
(3) References to disclosing protected material include references to making
the protected material available to other persons (in a case where the
protected material includes samples).”
Insert the following new Clause—
“Permitted disclosures
(1) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material by the OGA which—
(a) is made to a person mentioned in column 1 of the table below,
(b) is made for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out of that
person’s functions, and
(c) is a disclosure of information obtained by the OGA under a Chapter
mentioned in the corresponding entry of column 2 of the table.
|
Column 1 |
Column 2 |
|
A Minister of the Crown |
Chapters 2 to 5 |
| Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs |
Chapters 2 to 4 |
|
The Competition and Markets Authority |
Chapters 2 to 5 |
|
The Scottish Ministers |
Chapter 3 |
|
The Welsh Ministers |
Chapter 3 |
|
A Northern Ireland Department |
Chapter 3 |
|
The Coal Authority |
Chapter 3 |
|
The Office for Budget Responsibility |
Chapter 3 |
|
An enforcing authority |
Chapters 2 to 5 |
|
The competent authority under article 8 of the Offshore Safety Directive |
Chapters 2 to 5 |
|
The Statistics Board |
Chapters 2 to 5 |
(2) In the table—
“enforcing authority” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Health
and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (see section 18(7)(a) of that Act);
“Minister of the Crown” has the same meaning as in the Ministers of
the Crown Act 1975;
“Offshore Safety Directive” means Directive 2013/30/EU of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on safety
of offshore oil and gas operations.
(3) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material by the OGA which—
(a) is a disclosure of protected material obtained by it under Chapter 3
(information and samples),
(b) is made to the Natural Environment Research Council, or any other
similar body carrying on geological activities, and
(c) is made for the purpose of enabling the body to prepare and publish
reports and surveys of a general nature using information derived
from the protected material.
(4) A person to whom protected material is disclosed by virtue of subsection
(1) or (3) may use the protected material only for the purpose mentioned in
subsection (1)(b) or (3)(c) (as the case may be).
(5) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit such a person from
disclosing the protected material so far as necessary for that purpose.
(6) The Secretary of State may by regulations amend the table in subsection
(1)—
(a) to remove a person from column 1,
(b) to add to column 1 a person to whom subsection (7) applies, or
(c) to add, remove or change entries in column 2.
(7) This subsection applies to—
(a) persons holding office under the Crown;
(b) persons in the service or employment of the Crown;
(c) persons acting on behalf of the Crown;
(d) government departments;
(e) publicly owned companies as defined in section 6 of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit the OGA from using
protected material obtained by the OGA under Chapter 3 (information and
samples) for the purpose of—
(a) preparing such returns and reports as may be required under
obligations imposed by or under any Act;
(b) preparing and publishing reports and surveys of a general nature
using information derived from the protected material.
(2) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit the OGA from disclosing
protected material so far as necessary for those purposes.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material if—
(a) the protected material was obtained by the OGA under Chapter 2
(disputes), and
(b) the disclosure is made in the exercise of the OGA’s powers under
section 18(6) (publication of recommendations for resolving
disputes).
(2) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material if it is made in the exercise of the OGA’s powers under section 52
(publication of details of sanctions).
(3) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material which is permitted by section (International oil and gas agreements:
information exchange) (international oil and gas agreements: information
exchange).”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit protected material
obtained by the OGA under Chapter 3 (information and samples) from
being—
(a) published, or
(b) made available to the public (in a case where the protected material
includes samples),
by the OGA or a subsequent holder at such time as may be specified in
regulations made by the Secretary of State.
(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may include provision permitting
protected material to be published, or made available to the public,
immediately after it is provided to a person.
(3) Before making regulations under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must
consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if the Secretary of State is satisfied that
consultation is unnecessary having regard to consultation carried out by
the OGA in relation to what time should be specified in regulations under
subsection (1).
(5) In determining the time to be specified in respect of protected material in
regulations under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must have regard to
the following factors—
(a) whether the specified time will allow owners of protected material
a reasonable period of time to satisfy the main purpose for which
they acquired or created the material;
(b) any potential benefits to the petroleum industry of protected
material being published or made available at the specified time;
(c) any potential risk that the specified time may discourage persons
from acquiring or creating petroleum-related information or
petroleum-related samples (as defined in section 23);
(d) any other factors the Secretary of State considers relevant.
(6) In balancing the factors mentioned in subsection (5)(a) to (d), the Secretary
of State must take into account the principal objective.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (5)(a), the owner of protected material is the
person by whom, or on whose behalf, the protected material was provided
to the OGA under Chapter 3 (information and samples).”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material if it is made with the appropriate consent.
(2) For this purpose a disclosure is made with the appropriate consent if—
(a) in the case of disclosure by the OGA, the original owner consents to
the disclosure;
(b) in the case of disclosure by a subsequent holder—
(i) the OGA consents to the disclosure, and
(ii) in a case where the protected material in question was
provided to the OGA under this Part, the OGA confirms
that the original owner of the material also consents to the
disclosure.”
Insert the following new Clause—
Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material required by virtue of an obligation imposed by or under any Act.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material by the OGA for the purposes of, or in connection with—
(a) civil proceedings, or
(b) arbitration proceedings.
(2) Section (Prohibition on disclosure) does not prohibit a disclosure of protected
material by the OGA for the purposes of, or in connection with—
(a) the investigation or prosecution of criminal offences, or
(b) the prevention of criminal activity.”
BARONESS LIDDELL OF COATDYKE
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State—
(a) to set and promote a national strategy for the development of
carbon capture and storage (“the strategy”) at the scale and pace
required to deliver the expected carbon dioxide emissions
reductions necessary to support delivery of the fifth, and
subsequent, carbon budgets, and
(b) to report on the implementation of the strategy by 2020, and every
three years thereafter.
(2) The Secretary of State shall develop the strategy by 2017 with input from
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Business,
Innovation and Skills, the Chief Executive of the Oil and Gas Authority and
other relevant stakeholders including the carbon capture and storage
industry.
(3) The strategy will outline the Government’s approach to—
(a) the development of carbon dioxide transport and storage
infrastructure;
(b) providing sufficient market signal to the carbon capture and
storage industry and finance community;
(c) the actions to be taken before 2020 to support the implementation
of the strategy after 2020;
(d) the responsibility of relevant Government departments with
respect to the implementation of the strategy; and
(e) appropriate funding mechanisms needed to support the delivery of
the strategy.”
LORD OXBURGH
LORD TEVERSON
BARONESS WORTHINGTON
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) It is the duty of the Secretary of State to—
(a) develop, promote and implement a comprehensive national
strategy for carbon capture and storage (CCS) to deliver the
emissions reductions required to meet the fifth and subsequent,
carbon budgets at the scale and pace required;
(b) develop that strategy in consultation with HM Treasury, the
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Oil and Gas
Authority and other relevant stakeholders including the CCS
industry; and
(c) have that strategy in place by June 2017 and report to Parliament on
the progress of its implementation every three years thereafter.
(2) The strategy provided for by subsection (1) shall, amongst other things,
include—
(a) the development of infrastructure for carbon dioxide transport and
storage;
(b) a funding strategy for implementation including provision of
market signals sufficient to build confidence for private investment
in the CCS industry;
(c) priorities for such action in the immediate future as may be
necessary to allow the orderly and timely development and
deployment of CCS after 2020;
(d) promotion of cost-effective innovation in CCS; and
(e) clarification of the responsibilities of government departments with
respect to the implementation of the strategy.”
After Clause 62
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Insert the following new Clause—
Schedule (Abandonment of offshore installations) makes provision about the
abandonment of offshore installations.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) Part 1A of the Petroleum Act 1998 (maximising economic recovery of UK
petroleum) is amended as follows.
(2) In section 9A (the principal objective and the strategy), in subsection (1)(b),
after paragraph (iv) insert—
“(v) owners of relevant offshore installations.”
(3) In section 9C (carrying out of certain petroleum industry activities)—
(a) omit subsection (3), and
(b) after subsection (4) insert—
“(5) A person who is the owner of—
(a) a relevant offshore installation, or
(b) upstream petroleum infrastructure,
must act in accordance with the current strategy or
strategies when planning and carrying out the activities
mentioned in subsection (6).
(6) Those activities are—
(a) the person’s activities as the owner of the
installation or infrastructure (including the
development, construction, deployment and use of
the infrastructure or installation);
(b) the abandonment or decommissioning of the
installation or infrastructure.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (5), planning the activities
mentioned in subsection (6)(b) includes the preliminary
stage of—
(a) deciding whether or when to proceed with the
proposed abandonment or decommissioning, and
(b) considering alternative measures to abandonment
or decommissioning such as re-use or preservation.”
(4) After section 9H insert—
(1) For the purposes of this Part an offshore installation is a relevant
offshore installation if and in so far as it is used in relation to
petroleum within subsection (2) (including such petroleum after it
has been got).
(2) Petroleum is within this subsection if it is petroleum which for the
time being exists in its natural condition in strata beneath—
(a) the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain, or
(b) the sea in any area designated under section 1(7) of the
Continental Shelf Act 1964.
(3) In this Part “owner”, in relation to a relevant offshore installation,
means—
(a) a person in whom the installation is vested, and
(b) a lessee and any person occupying or controlling the
installation.”
(5) In section 9I (other definitions), at the appropriate place insert—
““offshore installation” has the same meaning as in Part 4 (see section
44);”;
““owner”, in relation to a relevant offshore installation, has the
meaning given in section 9HA;”;
““relevant offshore installation” has the meaning given in section
9HA;”;
““submarine pipeline” has the meaning given in section 45;”.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) Part 1A of the Petroleum Act 1998 (maximising economic recovery of UK
petroleum), as amended by this Act, extends to Northern Ireland (as well
as to England and Wales and Scotland).
(2) In that Act, for section 9H substitute—
(1) In this Part “upstream petroleum infrastructure” means anything
that for the purposes of section 82(1) of the Energy Act 2011 is—
(a) a relevant upstream petroleum pipeline,
(b) a relevant oil processing facility, or
(c) a relevant gas processing facility,
if and in so far as it is used in relation to petroleum within
subsection (2) (including such petroleum after it has been got).
(2) Petroleum is within this subsection if it is petroleum which for the
time being exists in its natural condition in strata beneath—
(a) the territorial sea adjacent to Great Britain, or
(b) the sea in any area designated under section 1(7) of the
Continental Shelf Act 1964.
(3) In this Part “owner”, in relation to upstream petroleum
infrastructure, means—
(a) a person in whom the pipeline or facility is vested;
(b) a lessee and any person occupying or controlling the
pipeline or facility; and
(c) any person who has the right to have things conveyed by
the pipeline or processed by the facility.”
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) This section applies where—
(a) there is a treaty or agreement in force between the government of
the United Kingdom and the government of a territory outside the
United Kingdom (“the overseas territory”) concerning cooperation
in relation to oil and gas activities, and
(b) the treaty or agreement includes arrangements for the exchange of
information between the two governments (“information exchange
arrangements”).
(2) If it appears to the Secretary of State that adequate safeguards are in place,
information held by the Secretary of State may be disclosed so far as the
Secretary of State considers necessary for the purpose of giving effect to the
treaty or agreement in question.
(3) If it appears to the OGA that adequate safeguards are in place, information
held by the OGA may be disclosed so far as the OGA considers necessary
for the purpose of giving effect to the treaty or agreement in question.
(4) For the purposes of this section adequate safeguards are in place if the
information exchange arrangements and the law in force in the overseas
territory are such as to ensure that information disclosed to the government
of the overseas territory under this section may be disclosed by that
government only—
(a) with the consent of the government of the United Kingdom, or
(b) so far as necessary for the purpose of preparing and publishing
reports of a general nature.
(5) References in this section to the OGA are to the OGA acting as a
representative of the government of the United Kingdom for the purposes
of the agreement with the overseas territory.”
BARONESS WORTHINGTON
LORD GRANTCHESTER
Insert the following new Clause—
Within one year of this Act coming into force, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of State shall report to each House of Parliament on estimated
decommissioning costs for North Sea oil and gas infrastructure.”
After Clause 64
BARONESS WORTHINGTON
LORD OXBURGH
LORD TEVERSON
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) Within one year of the coming into force of this Act, the Government shall
undertake a consultation on measures requiring extractors and importers
of petroleum to contribute to the development of zero carbon emissions
technologies in the United Kingdom.
(2) The consultation on such measures shall, among other things, consider the
benefits of moving from public funding of zero emissions technologies
projects to market incentives and private finance.”
Clause 67
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 39, line 24, leave out paragraph (b)
Page 39, line 25, at end insert “or
( ) regulations under section (Disclosure permitted after specified
period)(1),”
Page 39, line 25, at end insert—
“( ) regulations under section (Disclosure by OGA to certain persons)(6),”
After Clause 67
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Insert the following new Clause—
(1) This section applies where the Secretary of State is required by this Act, the
Petroleum Act 1998 or the Energy Act 2008 to consult the OGA before
exercising a power to make regulations or an order.
(2) The requirement does not apply in relation to the first exercise of the power
in the period of one year beginning with the date on which section 1 comes
into force.”
Clause 69
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Page 40, line 3, after “amendment” insert “(other than an amendment of Part 1A of
the Petroleum Act 1998)”
After the Schedule
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Insert the following new Schedule—
““SCHEDULE
ABANDONMENT OF OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS
Petroleum Act 1998
1 Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (abandonment of offshore installations)
is amended as follows.
2 Before section 29 insert—
“28A Restriction on abandonment
(1) A person to whom a notice may be given under section 29(1) in
relation to an offshore installation or submarine pipeline may not
abandon, or begin or continue the decommissioning of, the
installation or pipeline unless an abandonment programme
approved by the Secretary of State has effect in relation to the
installation or pipeline.
(2) A person who without reasonable excuse contravenes subsection
(1) is guilty of an offence.”
3 (1) Section 29 (preparation of programmes) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (1) insert—
“(1A) The power to give a notice under subsection (1) is exercisable—
(a) on the Secretary of State’s own motion, or
(b) at the request of any person to whom the notice may be
given (whether or not the notice is given to that person).”
(3) After subsection (2) insert—
“(2A) A person to whom a notice under subsection (1) is given—
(a) must consult the OGA before submitting the
abandonment programme to the Secretary of State, and
(b) must frame the programme so as to ensure (whether by
means of the timing of the measures proposed, the
inclusion of provision for collaboration with other
persons, or otherwise) that the cost of carrying it out is
kept to the minimum that is reasonably practicable in the
circumstances.
(2B) When consulted under paragraph (a) of subsection (2A) the OGA
must (in particular) consider and advise on—
(a) alternatives to abandoning or decommissioning the
installation or pipeline, such as re-using or preserving it,
and
(b) how to comply with paragraph (b) of that subsection.”
(4) In subsection (3), after “such” insert “other”.
4 (1) Section 32 (approval of programmes) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (2) insert—
“(2A) The modifications or conditions may (in particular) include
modifications or conditions—
(a) which are intended (whether by means of the timing of
the measures proposed, the inclusion of provision for
collaboration with other persons, or otherwise) to reduce
the total cost of carrying out the programme, provided
that they do not increase the total costs to be met by any
person who is to be subject to obligations under the
programme or under any other abandonment
programme;
(b) requiring the persons who submitted the programme to
carry out and publish or make available to the Secretary
of State and the OGA a review of the programme and its
implementation including, where relevant,
recommendations as to the contents and implementation
of future abandonment programmes.”
(3) At the end insert—
“(6) Before reaching a decision under this section the Secretary of
State must—
(a) consult the OGA, and
(b) take into account the cost of carrying out the programme
that has been submitted and whether it is possible to
reduce that cost by modifying the programme or making
it subject to conditions.
(7) When consulted under subsection (6)(a), the OGA must (in
particular) consider and advise on—
(a) alternatives to abandoning or decommissioning the
installation or pipeline, such as re-using or preserving it,
and
(b) whether section 29(2A)(b) has been complied with and, if
it has not been, modifications or conditions that would
enable it to be complied with.”
5 In section 33 (failure to submit programme), after subsection (3) insert—
“(3A) When preparing an abandonment programme under this section
the Secretary of State must—
(a) consult the OGA, and
(b) frame the programme so as to ensure (whether by means
of the timing of the measures proposed, the inclusion of
provision for collaboration with other persons, or
otherwise) that the cost of carrying it out is kept to the
minimum that is reasonably practicable in the
circumstances.
(3B) When consulted under paragraph (a) of subsection (3A), the
OGA must (in particular) consider and advise on—
(a) alternatives to abandoning or decommissioning the
installation or pipeline, such as re-using or preserving it,
and
(b) how to comply with the requirement in paragraph (b) of
that subsection.”
6 (1) Section 34 (revision of programmes) is amended as follows.
(2) After subsection (4) insert—
“(4A) A person who makes a proposal under subsection (1) that is
likely to have an effect on the cost of carrying out the programme
must frame it so as to ensure (whether by means of the timing of
the measures proposed, the inclusion of provision for
collaboration with other persons, or otherwise) that the cost of
carrying out the programme as proposed to be altered is kept to
the minimum that is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.
(4B) Where the Secretary of State makes a proposal under subsection
(1)(a) the purpose of which is to reduce the total cost of carrying
out a programme, the proposal may not increase the total costs to
be met by any person who is to be subject to obligations under
the programme or under any other abandonment programme.”
(3) After subsection (7) insert—
“(7A) If it appears to the Secretary of State that what is proposed under
subsection (1) is likely to have an effect on the cost of carrying out
the programme, the Secretary of State must, before making a
determination under subsection (7)—
(a) consult the OGA, and
(b) take that effect into account.
(7B) When consulted under subsection (7A)(a) the OGA must (in
particular) consider and advise on—
(a) alternatives to abandoning or decommissioning the
installation or pipeline, such as re-using or preserving it,
and
(b) whether subsection (4A) applies and, if so, whether it has
been complied with.”
7 After section 34 insert—
“34A Amendment of programmes
(1) This section applies where an abandonment programme
approved by the Secretary of State includes provision by virtue
of which the programme may be amended.
(2) A person who proposes to make an amendment under such a
provision that is likely to have an effect on the cost of carrying out
the programme must frame the amendment so as to ensure
(whether by means of the timing of the measures proposed, the
inclusion of provision for collaboration with other persons, or
otherwise) that the cost of carrying out the programme as
proposed to be amended is kept to the minimum that is
reasonably practicable in the circumstances.
(3) If it appears to the person who proposes to make the amendment
that subsection (2) applies, the person must consult the OGA
before making the amendment.
(4) When consulted under subsection (3) the OGA must (in
particular) consider and advise on—
(a) alternatives to abandoning or decommissioning the
installation or pipeline, such as re-using or preserving it,
and
(b) whether subsection (2) applies and, if so, whether it has
been complied with.
(5) Any person who has the function of approving amendments
made under a provision mentioned in subsection (1) must, when
exercising the function, take into account the effect of the
proposed amendment on the cost of carrying out the
programme.”
8 After section 36 insert—
“36A Reduction of costs of carrying out programmes
(1) This section applies where an abandonment programme
approved by the Secretary of State has effect in relation to an
installation or pipeline.
(2) The Secretary of State may, for the purpose of reducing the total
cost of carrying out the programme, by written notice require
any person who submitted the programme to take, or refrain
from taking, action of a description specified in the notice.
(3) The notice may, in particular, require—
(a) changes to the times at which the measures proposed in
the programme are to be carried out;
(b) the persons who are under a duty to secure that the
programme is carried out to collaborate with other
persons.
(4) The programme, and any condition to which it is subject, has
effect subject to any notice given under this section.
(5) A notice given under this section may not increase the total costs
to be met by any person who is to be subject to obligations under
the programme or under any other abandonment programme.
(6) The Secretary of State may not give a notice to a person under this
section without first giving the person an opportunity to make
written representation as to whether the notice should be given.
(7) A person to whom a notice is given under this section who
without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the notice is
guilty of an offence.
(8) If a notice under this section is not complied with, the Secretary
of State may—
(a) do anything necessary to give effect to the notice, and
(b) recover from the person to whom the notice was given
any expenditure incurred under paragraph (a).
(9) A person liable to pay any sum to the Secretary of State by virtue
of subsection (8) must also pay interest on that sum for the period
beginning with the day on which the Secretary of State notified
the person of the sum payable and ending with the date of
payment.
(10) The rate of interest payable in accordance with subsection (9) is a
rate determined by the Secretary of State as comparable with
commercial rates.”
9 In section 37 (default in carrying out programmes), after subsection (1)
insert—
“(1A) If it appears to the Secretary of State that the proposed remedial
action is likely to have an effect on the cost of carrying out the
programme, the Secretary of State must—
(a) consult the OGA before giving a notice under subsection
(1), and
(b) take that effect into account when deciding whether to
give the notice.
(1B) When consulted under subsection (1A)(a), the OGA must
consider and advise on the likely effect of the proposed remedial
action on the cost of carrying out the programme.”
10 In section 40 (offences: penalties)—
(a) after “section” insert “28A,”, and
(b) after “33,” insert “36A,”.
11 (1) Section 41 (offences: general) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1)—
(a) after “section” insert “28A,”, and
(b) after “33,” insert “36A,”.
(3) In subsection (2)—
(a) after “section” insert “28A,”, and
(b) after “33,” insert “36A,”.
(4) In subsection (3)—
(a) after “section” insert “28A,”, and
(b) after “33,” insert “36A,”.
(5) In subsection (5), after “section” insert “28A, 36A or”.
12 (1) Section 42 (validity of Secretary of State’s acts) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (2), after paragraph (e) insert—
“(ea) the giving of a notice under section 36A(2);”.
(3) In subsection (5), after paragraph (e) insert—
“(ea) in relation to the giving of a notice under section 36A(2),
means the requirements of section 36A(6);”.
Energy Act 2008
13 (1) Section 30 of the Energy Act 2008 (abandonment of carbon storage
installations) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsection (1), after “subsections” insert “(1A),”.
(3) After that subsection insert—
“(1A) For the purposes of subsection (1), the amendments made to Part
4 of the 1998 Act by Schedule (Abandonment of offshore
installations) to the Energy Act 2016 are to be disregarded.”
(4) For subsection (4A) substitute—
“(4A) The power in subsection (4)—
(a) may (in particular) be exercised to make modifications
corresponding to the amendments made by Schedule
(Abandonment of offshore installations) to the Energy Act
2016, and
(b) is subject to section 30A.””
In the Title
LORD BOURNE OF ABERYSTWYTH
Line 2, after “infrastructure;” insert “to make provision about the abandonment of
offshore installations, submarine pipelines and upstream petroleum
infrastructure;”
Line 2, after “infrastructure;” insert “to extend Part 1A of the Petroleum Act 1998
to Northern Ireland;”
Line 2, after “infrastructure;” insert “to make provision about the disclosure of
information for the purposes of international agreements;”