HL Deb 17 April 1973 vol 341 cc1028-31

2.39 p.m.

VISCOUNT STONEHAVEN

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of divers, qualified to dive deeper than 60 metres, operating in the North Sea oil and gas fields, are British Navy trained; what facilities, under re-training schemes, or Government sponsored schemes, exist in the United Kingdom for training divers to operate at these depths and how much the Government are spending on research and development in this field.

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)

My Lords, there are no formal qualifications required by divers employed on this work but I am advised that most of them have served in the Royal Navy. Following the IMEG report on offshore petroleum developments, interdepartmental discussions have already begun to identify the training and educational needs arising from offshore operations, including diving, and to consider how they can be met. There are at present no courses sponsored by the Government for deep sea diving, and the training of divers in commercial schools under the Training Opportunities Schemes has so far been confined to the use of shallow waters. The Ministry of Defence are spending £300,000 a year on diving research, and an additional sum of £150,000 is available this year for the developing of diving equipment. The Department of Trade and Industry are placing contracts for research projects worth £75,000. Further contracts are being considered.

VISCOUNT STONEHAVEN

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, it may be that I did not hear him aright but I thought he said that no qualifications were laid down for divers to qualify to dive deeper than 60 metres.

LORD DRUMALBYN

Yes, my Lords, that is so. I said that there are at present no formal qualifications, but regulations are going to be issued on safety, health and welfare which will spell out requirements for divers—for example, as to their age, experience and so on.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether he is aware that there is a great shortage of divers, and is it not rather a matter of regret that interdepartmental discussions on this subject are still going on, eight months after the IMEG report referring to this and other matters was received by the Government?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am not aware that there is a great shortage. I am told that there are some 300 divers operating. I would say to my noble friend that this is a new field of activity and we have to be careful to get the proposed regulations right. In addition, the Act requires us to consult with all concerned.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, would my noble friend not agree that the Italian firm, Sub-Sea Oilfield Services Ltd., and the French firm, COMEC, have to a large extent beaten the British firms in this field to the draw because they have more divers available who are fully experienced?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I cannot agree with that because I am not aware of it, but I will look into it and I am obliged to my noble friend.

VISCOUNT STONEHAVEN

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether he is aware of the commercial regulations for deep sea diving which have been in existence for a very long time and whether it is not perhaps rather dilatory of Her Majesty's Government not to have looked into this subject?

LORD DRUMALBYN

No, my Lords, I would not agree that it was dilatory on our part. I have explained why. There is good evidence to show that the contractors are careful in their supervision over divers and are acting with responsibility in this matter.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, would the Minister not agree that it would appear that this is not an attractive occupation; hence the reason for the dearth of applications for such duties as that of deep sea diving? Would the Minister not agree that these people, like the miners, are faced with the elements of nature and therefore this must be taken into consideration?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am not certain that I agree with the noble Lord, with all respect to his experience. The challenge itself in a case like this is the incentive to take up this kind of work and, after all, it is not badly remunerated.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, is the Minister in the course of his reply trying to impose upon the House the view that this is an attractive occupation and that the disadvantages in no way have any bearing on the applications from people to enter such a service?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I have no evidence on that at all.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, since the deep sea divers in this country are mainly recruited from the Roy al Navy and the Royal Marines, does that not rather suggest that the excitement of the job is the incentive?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I am inclined to agree.

VISCOUNT STONEHAVEN

My Lords, I think the noble Lord said that he thought there were probably ample divers available. The numbers are not necessarily very great but they are vital to the development of the oil industry in this country, not only in the development stages. Does the noble Lord realise that when the oil wells have been established, divers are required on a permanent basis to maintain those wells?

LORD DRUMALBYN

Yes, my Lords, I fully understand that and I can assure my noble friend that the whole subject is being studied very fully in the light of the Report of the Society of Underwater Technology that was made to the Department of Employment.

THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the Minister say whether that Report will be made public?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, that Report was made some time ago. I will look into the matter and let my noble friend know.