§ 29. Mr. Alisonasked the Minister of Power why 15 months elapsed between the loss of the oil rig "Sea Gem" on 27th December, 1965, and the setting up of the inquiry into the reasons for the loss.
§ Mr. FreesonPreparations for the public inquiry, which opens on 7th March, have entailed prolonged preliminary investigations, including the recovery and examination of pieces of wreckage. The results of these investigations will be available to the inquiry and contribute to its effectiveness.
§ Mr. AlisonIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, on the face of it, that is not a very reassuring Answer? Is he aware that the disaster that resulted in the loss of the "Sea Gem", which is to be investigated, might have occurred to any of the other rigs in the intervening 15 months? Will he publish details of the investigations that have taken place over those 15 months up to the inquiry?
§ Mr. FreesonIt would not be proper to do that until we have the results of the inquiry.