HC Deb 05 March 1973 vol 852 cc22-3
23. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what communications he has received from the Scottish Trades Union Congress on the recent appointment of a Director of DTI Offshore Supplies Office; and what reply he has seat.

Mr. Chataway

None Sir. But when my hon. Friend the Tinder-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met the Scottish TUC in Scotland on 9th February it indicated that it would be sending him a memorandum on the IMEG report generally.

Mr. Eadie

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he will be receiving communications from the Scottish Trades Union Congress, particularly since this matter will be debated at the congress in Aberdeen this year? The Government have not made a case for the office being sited in London. How does this policy fit in with the Government's declared intention that there shall be office dispersal from London?

Mr. Chataway

I look forward to receiving the advice of the Scottish TUC. I was glad to understand from my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry that there was a substantial measure of support and understanding for the wide range of measures which we are taking to support British industry in breaking into offshore supplies.

On the question of the location of the office, clearly one of the important determining factors was what would be the most effective point from which to deal with the oil companies which have their headquarters in London. Another was that the closest co-operation was needed with the industry divisions of my Department which deal with the supplying industries. While we are anxious to move a substantial amount of office accommodation out of London, the effectiveness of the job which can be done for Scottish industry must be the determining factor.

Mr. William Hamilton

In view of the devastating exposures of the scandalous inefficiences of Governments in dealing with the question of North Sea oil since 1964, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that the Government will make an emergency statement very shortly indicating how they intend to obtain for the nation, not for the shareholders of the oil companies, the enormous benefits which North Sea oil clearly will produce in the very near future?

Mr. Chataway

That question goes a great deal wider than the Question on the Order Paper.