§ 82. Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to obtain and publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the subsidies pay able by the United States Government on oil rig supply and service vessels built in the United States of America; and if he will provide similar subsidies to the United Kingdom shipyards.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantI am not aware that the United States Government subsidise the construction of this kind of vessel. I shall be pleased to consider any evidence the hon. Gentleman is able to submit.
§ 83. Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the number of oil rig supply, service and standby vessels required for use by oil rigs situated in the North Sea oilfields by 1975 and 1980.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThe specific information requested is not available but as I said in my answer on 13th November, the prospective market for such vessels is among the subjects considered by consultants in a report recently submitted to the Government.—[Vol. 846, c. 14–15.]