§ 8. Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of overcapacity, whether he still requires four ethylene crackers based on North Sea natural gas liquid feedstock by 1985; and when he intends to make a further statement on the North Sea gathering pipelines.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Energy (Dr. J. Dickson Mabon)The first part of the Question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry. I cannot make a 955 general statement on gas gathering before I have studied the final report of Gas Gathering Pipelines (North Sea) Ltd., which is due to be submitted to me at the end of this month.
§ Mr. SkeetWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the other Departments involved to ensure that there is no waste of financial resources here? Will he bear in mind that it is not much use making available the resources from the North Sea if the chemical industry is not in a position to use them? Will the right hon. Gentleman be satisfied that inflation does not make it impractical to go ahead with the pipeline, and thereby lose a great deal of the financial resources which could be used for other purposes?
§ Dr. MabonThe answer to the first two parts of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is "Yes". I have noted the hon. Gentleman's other point.
§ Mr. GrayWill the Government take steps to ensure that the information contained in the Williams and Mertz report is kept up to date constantly in a situation which changes all the time?
§ Dr. MabonYes, Sir; but when it is published it will be revised to remove commercially confidential information.