§ Mr. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking 360W to make known to United Kingdom industry the results of research, supported by his Department and directed at improving the efficiency and safety of exploratio nand exploitation of offshore oil and gas.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonMy Department already publicises non-confidential reports on this subject through the R & D Abstracts of the Technology Reports Centre and also directly to United Kingdom firms known to be interested.
It is now supporting a small editorial unit in the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) to produce a free quarterly newsletter, "Offshore Research Focus", giving news of research in progress supported by the Department of Energy. The newsletter is aimed primarily at scientists, technologists and engineers interested in developments in the United Kingdom offshore industry. The first number is issued today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
CIRIA will also publish on behalf of the Department of Energy interim reports of specific projects in hand and guides to civil engineers describing laboratory work distilled from the research supported by my Department.
It is hoped that, through this new publishing initiative, industry will be kept informed with the minimum of delay of developments in this vitally important area of offshore technology.