§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations there have been between his Department and British Aerospace as regards the construction of air combat manouevring system platforms in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonIn September 1987 an official from my Department attended a presentation by BAe on its proposal, at which the company was advised of the statutory consents which would be needed before any 49W platforms could be emplaced and the conditions likely to be imposed to ensure that they would be removed when disused. My Offshore Supplies Office subsequently brought to BAe's attention the considerable capability of the United Kingdom fabrication industry and asked that, if the project went ahead, British fabrication companies be given every opportunity to bid for the contracts.