§ Mr. John Mackayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is in a position to make a statement on the future use of the platform site at Portavadie.
§ Mr. YoungerIn November 1978 the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Energy appointed a team of management and engineering consultants to identify potential users of, and to recommend companies with viable projects interested in acquiring or leasing, the concrete platform site at Portavadie for a purpose other than the construction of offshore oil platforms and similar structures.
408WThe consultants' report was submitted in February 1979. Although the consultants suggested various categories of uses they were unable to specify any particular interested company.
I am not, however, satisfied that alternative uses—whether oil-related or otherwise—are ruled out. I have had a number of inquiries for commercial use of the site, two of which are current. I am therefore arranging for site maintenance to continue at a reduced cost until the position is clearer.