§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Energy if the oil pipeline which will bring oil to Sullom Voe has been satisfactorily sunk and anchored to the bottom of the sea.
§ Mr. John SmithThe section of the pipeline being laid from Firths Voe which floated to the surface on 13th September 1975 was repositioned on the sea bed by attaching weights to the pipeline and flooding it with water. The Pipelines Inspector of my Department is in close touch with the owners of the pipeline and has agreed with them further steps to be taken to provide permanent weighting of the line. The Pipelines Inspector will require tests to be carried out to ensure the integrity of the line before it is commissioned for use.