§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made with his Department's technical investigation into the Piper Alpha accident.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Department's director of safety, Mr. James Petrie, has now produced a further report on the work done following his interim report which was published at the end of September. With the agreement of Lord Cullen, who will be conducting the public inquiry into the accident, I am today placing a copy of this further report in the Library of the House and am making copies widely available.
As further investigatory work is to be undertaken by the public inquiry, Mr. Petrie has requested that he be released from further investigation of the accident under the remit given by the Secretary of State and the Health and Safety Commission. My right hon. Friend has agreed with the commission that it should accept this request.