§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the access allowed to foreign nationals to take up diving jobs in support of offshore oil operations at rates cheaper than those which would have been paid to British divers who consequently are unemployed.
§ Mr. RaisonI have been asked to reply.
Immigration legislation does not extend to rigs and other installations operating wholly at sea on the United Kingdom continental shelf—North Sea, Irish Channel or other sectors—and immigration controls cannot be exercised. It follows that, unless the work is partly or wholly shore-based, work permits are not required.