§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what figures she collates on how many UK-based petroleum geologists and geophysicists are working in(a) the UK and (b) abroad. [79162]
§ Mr. WilsonMy Department does not collate such figures. However, under a recent Government/industry PILOT initiative, a questionnaire on UK Continental Shelf exploration activity is being circulated to all UKCS exploration managers. Within this, companies are being asked how many geoscientists are currently working for their organisation on the UKCS and how this compares with 3 years ago. The survey will conclude by December 2002, and the results will then be analysed and presented to PILOT in due course.