§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the branch of the Offshore Supplies Office to be opened in Aberdeen; how many persons will be employed there initially; how many local persons will be employed as opposed to staff transferred from London and Glasgow; where the office will be sited in Aberdeen; when he hopes it will begin operating; and what is the estimated cost of setting up the office, and the total cost of running it, including all salaries etc., in its first year.
§ Mr. John SmithIt is intended to open in Aberdeen a small outpost of the main Offshore Supplies Office based in Glasgow as soon as suitable arrangements can be made. At this stage it is not possible to state numbers of staff and the cost of the office, but neither will be large.