HL Deb 05 November 1979 vol 402 cc597-9

2.44 p.m.

Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARD

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 what safety measures they have in mind in the event of an oil blow-out in the North Sea.

The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EMPLOYMENT (The Earl of Gowrie)

My Lords, each operator of an offshore oil/gas installation on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf has by regulation to prepare contingency plans for a number of emergency situations, including blow-outs. The contingency plans of fixed oil installations have been called in by the Department of Energy and are scrutinised—albeit the ultimate responsibility must rest with the operator. Annual exercises are held by Government to test contingency planning procedures. In the event of a blow-out, the normal search and rescue facilities co-ordinated by H.M. Coastguard can be called upon and operators can also call upon the resources of other North Sea operators through the "Sector Club" arrangements. The Department of Energy has also made arrangements to monitor the operators' responses to blowouts and to inform and co-ordinate the various departmental interests.

Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARD

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his somewhat comforting reply. However, is he aware that in my Question I was not concerned with the safety of the crew on the oil-rigs—because the oil companies are so efficient that they would obviously have ample safety precautions in that respect—but that my real thoughts were turning on the virtually complete destruction of marine life in such a restricted area as the North Sea? I was hoping that Her Majesty's Government might have some task force at hand composed of people like Red Adair. I understand that there is a man called Red Adair who appears to be able to control these blow-outs. I wonder whether Her Majesty's Government have a reserve of Red Adairs to try to control such a blow-out, which could be disastrous?

The Earl of GOWRIE

My Lords, I can assure my noble friend that no political considerations will come into the provision of safety in the event of a blow-out. In fact, as he said, the Government do have a task force—the Blow-Out Emergency Team—which can, in the last resort, take over control of operations from the operator.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, arising out of what the noble Viscount said, may I ask the Government whether they are aware of the very great work that Mr. Red Adair and his team from Texas did in capping the Ekofisk blow-out—work for which we are all indebted? What are Her Majesty's Government doing to ensure that a British team is trained for this very important work should a similar emergency arise in our waters? I am sure that the Government would agree that this is too important a matter to be left to individual companies.

The Earl of GOWRIE

My Lords, if the noble Lord will be so kind as to study my last answer, he will realise that I have in fact said that the Government do have such a task force—the Blow-Out Emergency Team. But, I am delighted to add my tribute to the work of Mr. Adair.