§ Mr. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he will introduce regulations under the Petroleum and Sub- 286W marine Pipe-lines Act 1975 for the safety of diving operations connected with the laying of submarine pipelines about the United Kingdom.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonThe Submarine Pipelines (Diving Operations) Regulations 1976 made on 14th June are laid before the House today. With the introduction of these regulations all commercial diving operations taking place in United Kingdom territorial seas and all diving in connection with offshore petroleum operations in designated areas of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf are now the subject of statutory safety provisions. The new regulations which relate to the diving operations carried out in respect of submarine pipelines and associated works closely follow the Offshore Installations (Diving Operations) Regulations 1974 and the Merchant Shipping (Diving Operations) Regulations 1975.