§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he has had with the director-general of the Health and Safety Executive about organisational changes necessary to accommodate the transfer of responsibility for offshore oil installations; what conclusions were reached; and what extra financial resources will now be made available for each financial year for which plans have been made.
§ Mr. ForthI refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy made to the House on 12 November, regarding the transfer of responsibilities for offshore oil installations to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The commission has already confirmed its acceptance of the transfer, and preparatory work is now proceeding in my Department, the Departments of Energy and Transport and in the HSE to ensure that the transfer is completed as efficiently and speedily as possible. No detailed decisions have yet been made on the question of appropriate resources. But, as my right hon. Friend assured the House in his statement, offshore safety will not be sacrificed through lack of resources.