§ 8. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the steps which are being taken to safeguard defence interests in regard to the sites at present being used for drilling in the North Sea.
§ Mr. HealeyIn accordance with an established procedure for consultation made with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power, the Ministry of Defence was consulted at an early stage about proposals to drill at the sites at present being used in the North Sea. No other special steps to safeguard defence interests are considered necessary.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not my right hon. Friend realise that these sites are, in fact, islands based upon a shallow shelf in the North Sea and could therefore, in this scientific age, be used for radio, television, or perhaps even nuclear, purposes adverse to Britain in time of war? What protection has Britain against these dangerous circumstances?
§ Mr. HealeyWhile I recognise that it is conceivable, on certain hypotheses, that some of these installations might be used by an unfriendly Power with hostile intent, there is no reason to believe at present that their use in this capacity is so intended. However, we are keeping a close watch on the matter, and if we find that any action is required we will take it.