§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the level and frequency of consultations between the Scottish Office and EEC officials over the preparation of EEC policies; and whether he will list those areas in which such consultations have already taken place.
§ Mr. William Ross:Senior officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland take part frequently in discussions with EEC officials on the preparation of policy on both major aspects of that Department's work. In other areas, Scottish Office officials play their full part in inter-departmental discussions on the formulation of United 432W optimium number of platform construction sites which should be built.
§ Mr. William Ross:The question of the optimum number of platform sites is under continuous study in both the Department of Energy, which has the primary responsibility, and the Scottish Office. Studies by others are taken fully into account.
§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of construction workers employed in the building of platform construction sites in Scotland and what was the number in 1973 and 1974, respectively; and what is his estimate of the numbers who will be so employed in each of the next five years.
§ Mr. William Ross:No figure is available for workers employed in site preparation work in 1973. The following table gives numbers of workers employed at platform yards with a breakdown between site preparation and platform construction where this is available.
Kingdom attitudes towards developing EEC policies. I am satisfied that the particular interests of Scottish agriculture and fisheries and the more general interests of other aspects of Scottish life affected by EEC policies are fully covered by these arrangements.