§ 38. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will 118W seek reciprocal arrangements with the United States of America in order that United States vessels can serve North Sea oil rigs, and United Kingdom vessels can serve rigs off the United States of America.
§ Mr. OnslowNo. Such action would in any case be unlikely to succeed, in view of the United States Government's traditional reservation of such trade to ships of its own flag: and any threat to exclude United States ships from work on North Sea oil rigs would prejudice the swift development of these essential resources, as well as being inconsistent with our liberal approach to participation in the coastal trades.