Campaigns-Letter to The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett, MP, From Greenpeace Legal Department

The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett, MP President of the Board of Trade c/o JRV Brooks Head of Exploration and Licencing Department of Trade and Industry 1 Victoria Street London SW1H 0ET 10th June 1997 Further to my letters of the 25 April and 7th May I still await the substantive response to the points I raised regarding the grant of licenses during the 17th round as promised by you in your letter dated 5th May. In my letter of 25 April I requested that you consider suspending the licenses until you had satisfactorily complied with your Department's obligations under both the Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitat Directives. However, I understand that activities by certain oil companies are about to take place on the Atlantic Frontier under the terms and conditions of licenses issued to them on the 7 April 1997. My client is very concerned that these activities are likely to have a significant impact on the biological diversity of the region and may take place before it hears from you regarding the very serious matters it has raised. I must now hear from you as a matter of urgency regarding those matters I have raised . I also seek confirmation that you are not allowing any licensed activities to take place on the Atlantic Frontier. If I do not receive your substantive response by 5pm on the l9th June I am instructed to apply to the High Court for leave for judicial review including an application for interim relief. I await to hear from you Yours sincerely Deborah Tripley Solicitor Greenpeace Ltd