HL Deb 07 August 1972 vol 334 cc857-8

7.59 p.m.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD POLWARTH)

My Lords, I understand that no Amendments have been set down to this Bill and that no noble Lord has indicated a wish to move a manuscript Amendment or to speak in Committee. Therefore, unless any noble Lord objects, I beg to move, pursuant to Standing Order No. 45(2), that the Order of Commitment be discharged.

Moved, That the Order of Commitment be discharged.—(Lord Polwarth.)

Then, Standing Order No. 44 having been suspended (pursuant to Resolution):

LORD POLWARTH

My Lords, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a third time. May I just remind your Lordships that the purpose of this Bill was to make possible the development of the Peterhead Harbour of Refuge as a base for servicing of the North Sea oil industry. I drew your Lordships' attention at an earlier stage to the need for speed and flexibility in the approach to meeting these needs. Point is added to that by the reports to-day of a major new oil strike in the waters to the North-East of the Shetland Islands, and I would only thank your Lordships for the general measure of support you have given to this Bill.

Moved. That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Lord Polwarth.)

LORD HOY

My Lords, may I just say one or two words, because this find that has been announced makes it all the more important that Scotland should be equipped to deal with it? This find does not surprise some of us on this side of the House, including my noble friend the Leader of the Opposition, because in our day a great deal of this research work was put in hand. Indeed, we have known for some time that certain finds were likely to be made. What we are grateful for is that this one is turning out to be as good as our advisers thought it might be. It is all the more essential perhaps that we have some further statement from the Government later on with regard to oil and its future for this coun- try. This is not the time to raise it. But if oil is going to be found in these quantities obviously there has got to be a further agreement between the Government and those exploiting the oil. They are spending considerable sums of money; we are well aware of that. The rewards may be very rich, but I should not like to think that in the process the country is forgotten.

On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed.