§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take all steps within his power to ensure that offshore requirements are met by British industry and such orders are not placed with competing foreign companies which are subsidised by their Governments.
§ Mr. GrayThe Government attach very great importance to maximising the involvement of British-based suppliers in our offshore developments. It continues to support United Kingdom industry's efforts through the full and fair opportunity policy administered by the Offshore Suppliers Office of my Department, which seeks to ensure that British bids are treated completely fairly. This policy has, of course, had the endorsement of successive Governments. British-based offshore suppliers have over the years steadily built up a very substantial share of the United Kingdom continental shelf offshore supplies market. The latest figures—for 1979—show that the United Kingdom share of the total orders placed, worth £2,679 million, was 79 per cent.
I will consider taking action where there is evidence of unfair foreign subsidisation.