§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what numbers of oil supply boats were operating in the Scottish sector of the North Sea in 1975; how many were in United Kingdom ownership; and how many United Kingdom owned supply boats are currently without charter or laid up.
§ Mr. BennA survey by the Offshore Supplies Office last October showed that 176 supply boats were then operating in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea. 54 of these were owned by United Kingdom companies. Figures are not readily available of the number of United Kingdom owned supply boats currently without charter or laid up, but now that pipelaying and other activities are beginning to start up again after the winter break it is thought that comparatively few are likely to be idle.