Part 2: Legislative and executive competence: further provision Chapter 9: Onshore petroleum Section 23: Onshore petroleum licensing
Section 23 amends section 8A (interpretation of Part 1) of the Petroleum Act 1998 (which is inserted by the Scotland Act 2016 to transfer to Welsh Ministers certain executive functions exercised currently by the Secretary of State relating to onshore petroleum licensing in the Welsh onshore area.
	Subsection (2) inserts new paragraph (aa) into subsection (1A) to provide that, for Part 1 of the Petroleum Act 1998, the "appropriate authority" shall be Welsh Ministers for the Welsh onshore area.
	Subsection (3) inserts new paragraph (aa) into subsection (2) to provide that, for Part 1 of the Petroleum Act 1998, the "appropriate Minister" shall be Welsh Ministers for the Welsh onshore area.
	Subsection (4) inserts new subsections (5), (6) and (7) into section 8A of the Petroleum Act 1998. Inserted subsection (5) defines the "Welsh onshore area" as the area of Wales (including the territorial sea adjacent to Wales) within the baselines set out by any Order in Council under section 1(1)(b) of the Territorial Sea Act 1987 (extension of territorial sea).
	Inserted subsection (6) provides that ‘Wales’ has the same meaning as in GoWA for the purposes of interpreting new subsection (5).
	Inserted subsection (7) defines the "English onshore area" as the area of England and the territorial waters adjacent to England that is within the baselines set out by any Order in Council under section 1(1)(b) of the Territorial Sea Act 1987 (extension of territorial sea).