§ 66. Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in order to avoid large legal costs, he will introduce legislation to declare that offshore oil installations outside territorial waters are not liable to pay local authority rates.
§ Mr. John SilkinNo. The position in England and Wales is that installations beyond the low-water mark are not rateable, as indicated in the reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 9th March 1976.
The position in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.—[Vol. 907, c. 149.]