§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to ensure that training and education resources are available to meet the North Sea oil and gas development needs.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe Government have now received and considered a report by a working party of officials from interested Departments, the University Grants Committee and the Petroleum Industry Training Board on education and training needs arising from offshore developments around the United Kingdom.
The main conclusions of the report are the need to create new educational and training facilities in the United Kingdom for petroleum engineers, drilling technologists and divers working in deep water; and to develop work already begun jointly by the Petroleum ITB and the industry to increase the facilities for training the crews of drilling rigs. It also recommends an examination of safety and health training offshore; further studies on the supply of education and training for occupations of technician, craft and operator level; and the further develop- 58W ment of work on projections of employment in this area.
My right hon. Friend and the Secretaries of State for Education and Science, Scotland and Trade and Industry have accepted the recommendations addressed to their Departments. The University Grants Committee has accepted in principle those for which it is responsible. The Government commend to the Petroleum ITB and the industry the recommendations with which they will be concerned. The Departments will be taking concerted action to implement the report.
Copies of the report are available to Members in the Vote Office.