§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many North Sea oil production platforms are currently on order from foreign sources.
§ Mr. John SmithThree, as follows:
Field Type Installation date Argyll Converted Drilling Rig. March 1975 Auk Steel July 1974 Beryl Concrete July 1975 Brent B Concrete August 1975 Forties FA Steel July 1974 Forties FB Steel June 1975 Forties. FC Steel August 1974 Forties FD Steel June 1975 Montrose Steel August 1975 Piper Steel June 1975
§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many oil production platforms are under construction 389W or on order at each of the following platform production sites: Lock Kishorn, Ardyne Point, Portavadie, Hunterston, Nigg Bay, Ardersier, Methil and Graythorpe;
(2) how many oil production platforms are now under construction in the United
Field Type Platform Contractors YardlSite Installation Brent A … Steel … RDL … Methil … 1976 Brent C … Concrete. … McAlpine/Seatank … Ardyne Point … 1977 Cormorant … Concrete … McAlpine/Seatank … Ardyne Point … 1977 Heather … Steel … McDermott … Ardersier … 1977 Ninian (Central) … Concrete … Howard/Doris … Loch Kishorn … 1977 Ninian (Southern) … Steel … Highland Fabricators … Nigg Bay … 1977 Thistle … . Steel … Laing Offshore … Graythorpe … 1976 No orders have yet been received by the platform contractors at Portavadie or Hunterston.
The platforms already installed and under construction will meet the current developments by the operators but I am in discussion with them about future orders.
§ Mr. Litterickasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take action to prevent the importation of foreign-built oil production platforms into British North Sea oilfields.
§ Mr. John SmithThe Government have no power to prevent the oil companies from importing foreign-made oil production platforms and it would be contrary to our international obligations to introduce legislation to this effect. However, as a result of steps taken by the Government the United Kingdom now has the capacity to build all the steel and concrete non-buoyant oil production platforms likely to be ordered in the future by the oil companies for the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea and we would naturally hope that all these orders will be placed with British yards. The Government have recently concluded a memorandum of understanding and code of practice with the oil companies which provide for full and fair opportunity for British companies.