§ 72. Mr. Millanasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs he estimates are now in prospect in Scot land in relation to the exploration and exploitation of North Sea oil.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithSince employers are still formulating their plans, any estimate of the additional jobs which will arise from activities connected with North Sea oil must be subject to appreciable margins of error. However, we are aware of various expansions which are expected to increase employment on such activities from its present total of around 2,500 to about 8,000 within the next three or four years. This figure could increase considerably. In addition there will be substantial employment in supplying firms and as a result of infrastructure investment in support of North Sea oil activities.