§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many safety inspectors of offshore installations have been appointed since the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 was passed; where each one is based; and how many public inquiries have been held by them since their inception.
554W
§ Mr. BennThere are 32 professional staff in the Petroleum Engineering Directorate of my Department; 13 of these exercise the powers of an inspector under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971, three based in Scotland and 10 in London.
Under powers in the Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973 the Directorate makes inquiries about all accidents arising from the operation of offshore installations. No public inquiries have had to be held since the 1971 Act came into force, although one was held into the loss of the drilling rig "Sea Gem" in 1965.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many individuals or companies have been prosecuted under Sections 9 and 10 of the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act since 1971.