Downing Street defends Jackdaw announcement timing after Speaker’s rebuke

Downing Street has defended the Government’s decision to announce approval for North Sea gas drilling to the media before ministers addressed MPs, saying the timing followed a long-standing practice for commercially sensitive announcements. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle criticised the order of events, arguing that Parliament should have heard about the decision before it was reported publicly.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh announced approval for the Jackdaw gas field, about 150 miles east of Aberdeen, after months of discussion. The project is expected to raise domestic gas production by around 6 per cent at its peak, safeguard hundreds of jobs and deliver an estimated £2.9 billion economic boost; gas is due to start supplying homes and businesses by the end of the month. The Government says each North Sea project will be assessed on its own merits, amid speculation that it may reject drilling at the Rosebank oil field.