§ Lord KENNETasked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions the Blowout Emergency Team has been in operation; what is its composition; how is it funded; and what expenditures relating to it have been or can be reclaimed from offshore operators.
The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EMPLOYMENT (The Earl of Gowrie)The Ekofisk Bravo blow-out in Norwegian waters in April 1977 highlighted the need for Government Departments and agencies involved in the consequences, control and cure of a blow-out to react with speed and co-ordination. Against this background plans were made for an Under-Secretary from the Department of Energy to mobilise and chair a team of officials from the relevant Departments at the port of operation of the relevant operating company. The Departments concerned normally include Trade, Ministry of Defence and the appropriate Home Department. The team has only been mobilised once (on an "exercise" basis) and the relatively small expenditures relating to it— mainly stand-by accommodation and communications equipment in Aberdeen— are not kept on a separate basis. The Government do not consider it appropriate to seek to reclaim these costs from offshore operators.