§ Mr. Corrieasked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he is arranging with North Sea oil companies with a view to advancing decisions on orders for concrete based platforms.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonWe are in regular contact with the offshore operators and continue to impress upon them the problems of the United Kingdom steel and concrete platform yards and their need for orders. The operators are pressing ahead with field appraisal and development planning as rapidly as is practicable. There is a reasonable possibility of four or perhaps five oil platform orders during 1977 and the first half of 1978.