§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to take steps by regulation to extend the 500 metre safety radius from North Sea installations to 1,000 metres to give greater protection both to the structures and adjacent pipelines on the seabed.
§ Mr. GrayCurrent international law does not permit the establishment of a safety zone with a radius greater than 500 metres. Any proposed extension of the present limit would be subject to international agreement and would in any event need to await ratification of the348W draft convention of the United Nation Law of the Sea Conference.