§ 39. Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will outline his plans for ensuring that Dundee will receive a greater number of oil related jobs from the development of Scotland's offshore oil resources.
§ Mr. StrangMy Department acknowledges the efforts being made by local authority and development bodies in Dundee to provide facilities for offshore oil-related activities. The Offshore Supplies Office has drawn the attention of potential oil-related developers to Dundee and will continue to do so.
§ Mr. WilsonIn view of the interest expressed by the hon. Gentleman, may I ask whether he is aware that when an itinerary for editors of oil journals was drawn up last week Tayside was left out and was included only after protests? Since only 250 jobs or so will come to Dundee out of the development of the offshore oil industry, what further plans has the right hon. Gentleman to increase the proportion of jobs?
§ Mr. StrangI note the hon. Gentleman's observations about a trip by journalists, but he will acknowledge that in this context journalists are relatively trivial. I can assure him of my determination to see that Dundee starts to get a real share of the jobs that are being created as a result of North Sea oil development. For that reason I am visiting Dundee during the Easter Recess and I hope to take my Secretary of State with me.