HC Deb 21 July 1975 vol 896 cc5-7W
Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of amounts paid by offshore construction contractors on a world-wide basis to companies engaged in underwater welding.

Mr. John Smith

Figures are not available since underwater welding usually forms only part of a contract and is not tendered or paid for separately.

Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is his latest estimate of the size of the potential world market for underwater welding in 1980;

(2) what is his latest estimate of the size of the potential market for underwater welding offshore the United Kingdom by 1980;

(3) what is his assessment of the present world-wide market for underwater welding;

(4) what is his estimate of the size of the present United Kingdom offshore market for underwater welding;

(5) what is his estimate of the proportion of the world-wide market for underwater welding held by British companies.

Mr. John Smith

For the reasons outlined in my reply to the hon. Member's previous Question there is insufficient data available on which to base estimates of present and potential markets.

Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total amount to the latest convenient date of aid or financial support given by Her Majesty's Government to British companies involved in research and development of underwater welding.

penditure (Cmnd. 5879), which included the following forecasts of expenditure on research and development, excluding contributions to international research:

Mr. John Smith

Current Government financial support to individual British companies in aid of research in underwater welding amounts to £150,000. In addition, Government contracts with research associations for the benefit of British companies generally amount to about £80,000.

Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the operation of the liaison between the Offshore Supplies Office and other Government Departments on the subject of research and development projects for underwater welding.

Mr. John Smith

There is regular day-to-day contact between the Offshore Supplies Office and other Government Departments, outside bodies, etc. on research and development in underwater welding. The formal link, however, is the Underwater Welding and Cutting Working Party which is a sub-group of the Marine Materials Panel of the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board.

The members of the working party are:

  • G. P. Smedley—Lloyds Register of Shipping (Chairman).
  • H. C. Cotton—British Petroleum.
  • D. B. J. Thomas—British Petroleum.
  • J. Craston—Department of Energy.
  • J. H. Rendall—Department of Energy.
  • K. F. Paddock—Department of Energy.
  • A. R. Moss—Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment.
  • P. F. Payne—Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit.
  • K. R. Haig—Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit.
  • Dr. J. R. Salter—Welding Institute.
  • W. H. Winn—Naval Construction Research Establishment.
  • Dr. D. W. Kirkley—British Oxygen Company.
  • D. G. Jenkins—Lloyds Register of Shipping (Secretary).

The terms of reference of the working party are:

  1. 1. To determine the problems of making reliable strength welds underwater;
  2. 2. To study processes and procedures proposed for the welding underwater of steel structures and pipelines; and
  3. 3. To investigate properties of welds made at depths encountered in the North Sea, and to determine the processes and techniques which will permit the achievement of sound and reliable welds for initial construction and repairs.

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