§ 17. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firm orders for oil rig supply vessels have been placed in 1971 and so far this year with British shipyards.
§ Mr. ChatawayEight firm orders for such vessels have been placed in British shipyards since the beginning of 1971.
§ 36. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to utilise the results of North Sea oil and gas exploration for the United Kingdom and to promote the 282W interests of industries of the Northern Region in the supply of equipment.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThese matters are fully covered in the report of the International Management and Engineering Group, which we hope to publish shortly together with the Government's conclusions on it. The interests of different regions are being taken fully into account.
§ 64. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many orders for oil rigs have been placed in Great Britain in 1971 and so far this year; and how many have been completed.
§ Mr. ChatawayOrders for the construction of three offshore drilling platforms were placed in Great Britain in 1971; so far this year there have been orders for four such platforms. The construction of one platform was completed in 1971, and one in 1972.
§ 67. Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the gross value of North Sea oil which he estimates will arise from production in the 1980s, the other factors which he has taken into account in estimating that Government revenues from oil will amount to £80 million in 1980, and the basis of his calculations.
§ Mr. EmeryIf oil production in 1980 is 75 million tons, its gross value, before allowing for exploration and production costs, would be about £700 million at current prices. The estimate of Government revenue of about £80 million covers royalty from oil alone, and rents.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the level of annual production which could be sustained from oilfields already confirmed as existing in the Scottish sector of the North Sea Continental Shelf, giving separate totals for each field.
§ Mr. EmeryForty million tons per annum from fields where production plans have been announced. Other discoveries as yet to be appraised are expected to yield sufficient to raise the annual output 283W to about 75 million tons per annum by 1980.
The estimate is based on information provided in confidence by licensees; it is therefore not possible to give a separate figure for each field.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will ensure that defence interests are taken into account before issuing petroleum drilling licences in the Minch.
§ Mr. Peter EmeryYes.