§ Mr. Douglasasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the implications of the report on the "Alexander Kielland" disaster on the operations, design and construction of rigs operating in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea.
§ Mr. GrayThe "Alexander Kielland" report has now been published, in Norwegian with a brief English summary. Before its implications for United Kingdom operations can be fully assessed it will need much careful consideration by my safety inspectorate.
Immediately after the tragic loss of the "Alexander Kielland", all mobile installations in United Kingdom waters were examined for possible damage; particular attention was paid to the similar pentagone installations, and these were all subsequently brought into sheltered waters for detailed survey and necessary modifications. Further remedial work will be done this year.
In light of discussions with the Norwegian commission of inquiry and other agencies, since the disaster, the safety training needs of offshore workers and the nature of standby rescue services are under active consideration. In the case of training a study group involving both the TUC and CBI is considering the matter; standby services are the subject of research project.