§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are taken by his Department to ensure compliance with safety regulations by drilling companies or operators working in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.
§ Mr. StrangI will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will establish a research programme into the possible ecological and environmental danger which might result in the Scottish sector of the North Sea from oil spillage, with special attention being directed to the effects of oil break-ups at sea, marine damage, eventual landfall of oil and the effectiveness of standby anti-pollution equipment.
§ Mr. StrangA research programme into all these matters has been going on for several years on behalf of the various Departments of Government concerned. The work was given a considerable impetus by the "Torrey Canyon" disaster in 1969. New techniques and equipment are under constant evaluation as well as a monitoring of the effects of pollution on the marine environment.