§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about when recommendation 6.5 of the Burgoyne report regarding the responsibility for offshore safety vested in his Department alone will be implemented; and if he will ensure that the independent examination of "Management Emergencies" recommended by the Burgoyne report is implemented without delay, and that the committee to be set up to perform this task will be similarly constituted to the Burgoyne committee.
§ Mr. David Howell[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1981]: Responsibility for offshore safety has effectively been vested in the petroleum engineering division of my Department since 16 February this year, when four experienced inspectors were seconded from the Health and Safety Executive. A revised agency agreement with the Health and Safety Commission endorsing this arrangement is expected to be ratified shortly.
A summary of the Government's response to all the recommendations of the Burgoyne report was placed in the Library of the House on 3 November. Those recommendations relating to the management of emergencies (paragraphs 6.57 to 6.63 of the Burgoyne report) were broadly accepted by my Department. Most of these recommendations have been implemented. The remainder will be implemented as soon as practicable.