§ 48. Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy concerning the integration of the protection of oil installations and fisheries.
§ Mr. DuffyIn offshore waters these tasks are complementary and the ships and aircraft used for fishery protection patrols are as far as possible used also for surveillance and deterrent patrols around oil and gas installations. The organisation of these patrols is fully co-ordinated in the Joint Maritime Headquarters at Pitreavie, both between the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force and between the Armed Services and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in respect of their vessels. Forces used for fishery protection in coastal waters are not, in general, suitable for offshore fishery protection or for patrols around oil installations.