HL Deb 19 April 1977 vol 382 cc5-7

2.42 p.m.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many drilling rigs are now operating in the United Kingdom Sector of the Continental Shelf and how many are British-owned.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, there were 13 drilling rigs operating from fixed platforms and 21 mobile rigs at the end of March. Of these, five fixed and four mobile were British-owned.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him how he squares the figure that he has just given with the forecast of the Department of Energy two years ago that at least 40 would be operating?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, there were no UK rig owners at the outset of North Sea exploration. While we should be pleased to see a faster rate of growth in UK representation, there has been a steady penetration of the market.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, on the tempo of drilling for exploration and production, can the Government take this early Parliamentary opportunity to comment on the report last week that the terminal being built in the Shetland Islands, and due to handle about half the oil from the North Sea, may be seriously delayed for at least two years?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, I think that is a different question.

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONE

My Lords, can I not persuade the Government, and the noble Lord in particular, not to refer to our beloved country by two such derogatory letters?

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, will the Government use the opportunity afforded by discussions with the exploration companies on the drilling programmes under the fifth round of licences to press for the maximum number of British-owned mobile rigs to be employed?

Lord STRABOLGI

Certainly, my Lords, I may say that arrangements made by the present Government make this rather easier.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, I am sorry that the noble Lord did not answer my last supplementary question. Can he answer this one, which again is related? Would there not be more drilling in prospect if the allocations of the fifth round could be confirmed at an early date? These allocations cannot be confirmed until BNOC has negotiated no fewer than 22 joint operating agreements with different groups. Can the noble Lord give us any information on this?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, I think that that is quite a different matter.