HC Deb 20 July 1973 vol 860 c253W
Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what study is being made of the health hazards affecting divers working below 400 feet in the North Sea.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

Research on diving health hazards is conducted by the Medical Research Council, and the results are published in the scientific literature. Research on diving operations and allied physiological problems is conducted by the Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive, and much of the resulting information is unclassified. There is close collaboration between MRC and MOD. The results of the research are made available to the offshore industries under a standing two-way arrangement with MOD, and are being incorporated into codes of practice for conventional diving, including oxy-helium operations. If further research, not in the province of MRC or MOD, were shown to be necessary, the case would be considered by the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board.