§ Mr. Formanasked the Secretary for Energy (1) what representations he has made to representatives of the Transport and General Workers Union to ensure that picketing is relaxed so as to allow the passage of essential supplies to offshore oil and gas installations;
(2) whether he is satisfied with the supply of essential parts and equipment to offshore oil and gas installations in view of current industrial disputes;
(3) whether he is satisfied with the supply of food to offshore oil and gas installations in view of current industrial disputes;
(4) what measures he is taking to ensure that essential parts and equipment for offshore oil and gas installations pass through the ports unhindered by strike pickets;
(5) what representations he has received from the United Kingdom Offshore Operators' Association as a result of picketing by the Transport and General Workers' Union;
(6) what administrative arrangements he has made to ensure that difficulties in oil and gas production and supply are promptly reported to him;
(7) how many meetings he has attended in the past week to ensure the unrestricted access of supplies to offshore oil and gas installations;
(8) what loss of production of both offshore oil and gas supplies has occurred as a result of recent and current industrial disputes in other industries;
(9) what representations he has made to representatives of the Trades Union Congress to ensure that picketing is relaxed so as to allow the passage of essential supplies to offshore oil and gas installations;
(10) what representations he has received from the British Gas Corporation, 37W the British National Oil Corporation or oil companies operating in the North Sea as a result of picketing by the Transport and General Workers' Union;
(11) what measures he is taking to ensure that vital food supplies for offshore oil and gas installations pass through the ports unhindered by strike pickets;
(12) in view of the current industrial disputes, what measures he is taking to ensure normal oil supplies from offshore installations;
(13) in view of the current industrial disputes, what measures he is taking to ensure normal gas supplies from offshore installations.
§ Mr. BennThe arrangements made by the Government for dealing with priority supplies of essential goods were outlined in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 18 January.—[Vol. 960, c. 1971.] My Department is keeping in close touch with the interests concerned. The offshore installations have adequate essential supplies at present and production so far is not affected.