§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken to provide modern data of the seabed topography of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf to enable future pipeline routes and future towing routes for deep draught concrete platforms to be planned.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonThere is a continuous programme of sea-bed topography survey being undertaken by the Naval Hydrographer. The charts produced as a result assist pipeline promoters with the initial routeing of their pipelines,592W but the subsequent detailed survey has to be undertaken by them using their own resources. Further surveys of possible tow-out routes for concrete platforms will be carried out as and when required.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf has been covered by modern bathymetric surveys adequate for the safe towage of concrete production platforms.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonSo far it has been found necessary to survey less than 0.5 per cent. of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf in connection with tow-out routes for concrete platforms.