Gas from North Sea's Jackdaw field could be flowing to British homes within days

Gas from the North Sea's Jackdaw field could be flowing to British homes within days, the energy minister said today.

But he refused to be drawn on the fate of the stalled Rosebank oil field, despite Parliament hearing it could also provide substantial amounts of gas to UK energy networks.

Rosebank, Britain's largest untapped oil field, remains in limbo while energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh decides on its future.

Drilling was halted after a legal challenge on climate grounds.

Jackdaw, which had faced a similar challenge, was finally approved last month.

At a heated debate in Parliament today, MPs discussed Rosebank's future.

Both fields are fiercely opposed by climate campaigners.

Energy minister Michael Shanks denied Labour was a "turn off the taps" government.

Defending the approval of Jackdaw, he said: "The decision will support the country's energy security, protecting hundreds of jobs and adding an estimated £2.9 billion to the UK economy. The decision was fully in line with our climate commitments and we expect that in the coming days gas will start to flow from the field to meet demand right across Britain."

Yet shadow energy minister Harriet Cross had earlier made the same arguments for Rosebank.

She said: "Yes, Rosebank is primarily an oil field. But it contains a notable amount of gas. While Jackdaw is expected to produce the equivalent of six per cent of the UK's gas needs, Rosebank could contribute a further four per cent. The Government permitted Jackdaw on the basis that it was good for gas supplies this winter and good for energy security – and those same reasons therefore apply to Rosebank."

Ms Cross said Labour's approach to the North Sea was costing tens of thousands of jobs, driving investment abroad and damaging the nation's energy security.

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"The Government are sending completely contradictory signals," she said. "One minute, they recognise the importance of domestic production and jobs by permitting Jackdaw. The next, they continue delaying Rosebank and are pressing ahead with their plan to ban new oil and gas licences.!

She added: "This is bad in so many ways for the UK. The Government is pushing investment abroad. They are driving down production and with it our energy security. They're sacrificing tens of thousands of jobs and skills that have taken over half a century to develop."

Abtisam Mohamed, Labour MP for Sheffield Central, said that approving Rosebank would be a betrayal of future generations.

She said: "There is no moral argument in developing more oil fields as climate breakdown continues. And unless we act now, we will be known as the generation that knowingly ushered in climate catastrophe. Rosebank fails on every test. It will not benefit taxpayers who will shoulder the vast majority of the development costs. It will not strengthen our energy security because most of the oil will be sold on international markets. And it will not reduce energy bills for our constituents who will remain exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices. I want us to show the courage to invest in renewable energy for a cleaner future, which will allow us to show real climate leadership."

Mr Shanks said he could not comment on Rosebank's future while the decision process was ongoing.

However, he said it was clear the UK would still need oil and gas "for decades to come, even on our path to Net Zero".

He said: "It is right that we take a pragmatic approach to this. In short, we are not a turn off the taps government, as our critics accuse us of being. But nor can we justifiably be a drill every last drop government, either. We have to manage the transition and build for our energy needs in the future as quickly as possible."

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