HC Deb 22 July 1975 vol 896 cc285-7
17. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will explore with the Norwegian Government arrangements for joint defence of oil rigs in the North Sea.

Mr. William Rodgers

The defence of North Sea oil installations against external attack is covered by NATO planning procedures. The protection of these installations in peace time is already under discussion outside NATO by the United Kingdom and Norway, together with other interested countries.

Mr. Hooley

I welcome the second part of that answer. Is Norway constructing special vessels for the purpose? If so, could we not co-operate with Norway in the construction and design of such vessels?

Mr. Rodgers

My hon. Friend is correct in saying that Norway has recently announced a programme of vessels rather similar to our own. It is not altogether clear whether there is room for co-operation in design and building since we have already placed our orders and the time scale is rather different. Certainly there will be co-operation as far as we are concerned.

Mr. Donald Stewart

How are oil rigs in the North Sea defended at the moment?

Mr. Rodgers

As the hon. Gentleman knows, it is important to distinguish between what happens in war-time circumstances, when the full resources of NATO and the Royal Navy would be available, and what happens in very different circumstances in peace time, for which we have new provisions about which the hon. Gentleman also knows.

Mr. Alexander Wilson

Will the Minister consider not only the safety of the oil rigs but also the safety of the men who work on them and urge his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment to bring all North Sea and offshore installations connected with the oil industry within the ambit of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act?

Mr. Rodgers

I am sure my right hon. Friend will note what my hon. Friend says and will write to him if necessary.

Mr. Mates

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of confusion in the House about the different threats against which we are trying to defend the oil rigs? Is he aware that I think the installations are virtually indefensible in war time against a conventional enemy but that there could be a threat from subversion and sabotage, which would require a different solution? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what steps his Ministry is taking to defend the rigs against subversion and sabotage, as opposed to the threat from the Warsaw Pact countries or anywhere else in war time?

Mr. Rodgers

The hon. Gentleman is correct in saying that there is a confusion between these different rôles. We have attempted to make plain the difference on a number of occasions. I made a statement in the House earlier this year about the peace-time rôle, and, in the last two or three weeks we have announced that the order has been placed for the vessels to carry out this requirement. We can only repeat that there is a distinction and that, as far as possible, we are providing against both sorts of danger.