HC Deb 03 July 1973 vol 859 cc239-40
13. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of State for Defence what discussions he has had with commercial interests engaged on the exploitation of North Sea oil on coordination with the Institute of Naval Medicine at Alverstoke.

Mr. Buck

None, Sir. But there is already considerable contact between members of the Institute of Naval Medicine and these interests.

Mr. Dalyell

As the accident rate in the North Sea is 55 times the national industrial average and 10 times the yearly average in the coal mines, is there not an argument for using Alverstoke for research on all sorts of problems, including diving below 400 ft. and rescue from cold water? The figures are alarming.

Mr. Buck

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for calling those figures to my attention—I had not seen them. He will know that there is good co-operation with this establishment and the one next door. If we can do anything to strengthen the ties which there should be between industry and those who operate in the North Sea, we will do so.

Mr. Douglas

Will the Minister look at the association between the Alverstoke institute, the Naval Research Establishment at Dunfermline and the National Engineering Laboratory at East Kilbride with a view to designing equipment suitable for operations in the North Sea, particularly at considerable depth?

Mr. Buck

I will gladly look into those matters. I know that the superintendent at Alverstoke has close contacts with the organisations mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.