HC Deb 07 August 1975 vol 897 cc719-21
Ql. Mr. Townsend

asked the Prime Minister if he will review the arrangements for ministerial co-ordination in relation to North Sea and other maritime resources.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

The present arrangements are kept under regular review.

Mr. Townsend

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is an urgent need to co-ordinate British maritime policy, instead of having the present patchwork? Is he further aware that the vital protection of our North Sea oil and gas resources cries out for better coordination of the Armed Forces, the four separate police authorities, and the commercial operators, as well as Government Departments?

The Prime Minister

I am not sure what the hon. Member meant in the first part of his question, about having a co-ordinated maritime policy in place of what he calls the present patchwork. Perhaps he will pursue that point with the relevant Ministries. Alternatively, I shall be glad to hear from him in greater detail on what he has in mind.

With regard to protection of North Sea oil operations, I have answered a number of Questions in the House and I shall be glad to draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to what is being done in this matter. It is not in any sense as he rather pessimistically expressed it.

Mr. Dalyell

May I give an example of excellent co-operation between the Ministry of Defence and the Department of the Environment in making Port Edgar, in West Lothian, into a national offshore engineering laboratory? This is in a constituency which is next to the North Sea. I assure my right hon. Friend that co-ordination is far more satisfactory than it used to be.

The Prime Minister

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend both for his remarks in the latter part of his supplementary question, about which great concern has been expressed in the House, and for drawing attention to the case which he has warmly welcomed.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Prime Minister re-examine certain aspects of co-ordination? Is he aware that there was a serious diving accident in my constituency, about which I put down a Question and wrote a letter to the Department of Trade? Is he aware that the letter was referred to the Department of Energy and the Question was referred to the Department of Employment?

Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that if there is a serious accident involving widespread pollution, it will require immediate remedial action? Many Ministers are involved. Who will take immediate command?

The Prime Minister

I am aware of this case. There have, indeed, been a number of tragic cases, as the right hon. Gentleman knows. He knows also that the safety of divers operating at offshore installations is now covered by the Offshore Installations (Diving Operations) Regulations 1974, which came into force at the beginning of this year. He will also be aware of the comprehensive code of regulations introduced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971. There has now been a comprehensive attempt to coordinate activities in order to develop safety and to minimise tragedies of the kind referred to by the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. William Hamilton

With regard to fuel resources in the North Sea, will my right hon. Friend now give an assurance that when the White Paper on devolution is published there will be a categorical assurance that there will remain a United Kingdom Department of Energy?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. The United Kingdom Department of Energy will be responsible for these matters.

Mr. Alexander Fletcher

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with ministerial control over North Sea oil? Does he agree that a separately instituted conservation authority would be a much better public safeguard in this respect?

The Prime Minister

That proposal was put forward by the Conservative Party at the time of the General Election in 1974, or perhaps a little while before that. I am satisfied that the control of depletion and conservation will be adequate under the legislation at present before Parliament and under the powers of the Secretary of State for Energy.

Mr. Henderson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reply he has given to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) that Scottish oil is to remain under the control of this House is worth several hundred votes to the Scottish National Party at the next election?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman found that his persuasiveness in the recent referendum fell far short of the hopes he held and the claims he puts forward from time to time. When we have discussed these matters in debate in the House and at Question Time there has never been a satisfactory answer to the possible desire of certain parts of Scotland not to regard even the kind of Scottish dream which the hon. Gentleman puts forward as appropriate for those areas.