Part 13: Offshore Wind Electricity Generation, Oil and Gas Chapter 2: Oil and Gas Section 297: Habitats: reducing effects of offshore oil and gas activities etc
This section contains a power to make regulations for the purposes of, or connected with, habitats assessment of offshore activities relating to oil and gas, including carbon dioxide storage and hydrogen production and storage. Subsections (2) and (3) enable regulations to be made preventing a specified type of activity from being carried out, or licence being granted, unless the Secretary of State has first considered the implications for relevant sites and granted a consent (which may be subject to conditions). Subsection (4) enables the Secretary of State to give directions. Subsection (5) provides that regulations cannot be made under subsections (2), (3) or (4), unless the Secretary of State considers they would contribute to the protection of relevant sites.
	Subsection (6) explains that a "relevant site" may be defined in accordance with the regulations, but that definition must be framed by reference to natural habitats or habitats of species.
	Subsection (7) contains further details about the provisions that can be made under the power in this section. For example, regulations may provide for:
definitions,
to confer functions,
revocation or modification of consents,
fees for associated regulatory functions, and
enforcement.
	This section also sets out the maximum penalties associated with any criminal offence, as well as maximum civil penalties that could be issued.