§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the capacity of companies in Italy, the Federal Republic and the United Kingdom for making large-diameter pipe; and how he proposes to meet North Sea requirements increasingly from local sources.
§ Mr. EmeryOf the order of ½ million, 1½ million and 400,000 tonnes per annum respectively. United Kingdom pipe-makers are well aware of the opportunities arising from North Sea oil and gas developments and have been urged to take full account of them in their future planning.