§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to establish and publish the proportion of capital expenditure to date, in connection with hydrocarbon exploration and production in the Scottish sector of the North Sea Continental Shelf, that has been placed with companies registered in Scotland.
§ Mr. EmeryIt would not be possible to identify these figures without disproportionate effort and cost. However, the Government have made it clear that they expect the operating companies to give United Kingdom firms a full and fair opportunity to compete for business in offshore United Kingdom waters, and naturally this applies particularly to industry in Scotland and other assisted areas. The hon. Member will be aware6W of the very important orders that have been won by both new and well established industries in Scotland, which are reported in the special issue of the Scottish Economic Bulletin published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on 7th May.
§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the other newspapers and magazines which carried the advertisement placed by his Department in the Oilman dated 30th April 1973.
§ Mr. Tom BoardmanThe list is as follows:
- Scotsman.
- Sunday Times.
- Daily Telegraph.
- Institution of Electrical Engineers News.
- Mechanical Engineering News.
- Petroleum Times.
- Engineers.