§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if his attention has been drawn to the continued inadequacy in provision of suitable ships for fire-fighting, repair and maintenance, and blow-out prevention duties in the North Sea oil and gas installations; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the building of such vessels is done in United Kingdom shipyards.
§ Dr. J. Dickson MabonI refer to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. Gray) on 13th February.—[Vol. 944, c.66.] My talks with the operators embrace the prospects for building these vessels in the United Kingdom; I am also discussing this 450W important aspect with the British shipyards most concerned.