§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what moneys have been spent and what future expenditure is envisaged on the study and measurement of the engineering properties of North Sea clays.
§ Mr. David HowellMost North Sea site investigations and measurements of sample properties, including those of clays, are carried out by the oil and gas industry. My Department's research in this field stems from my responsibility for the safety of offshore structures. The work is conducted mainly on land sites chosen because their geology is similar to that found offshore. Expenditure to date, including work on piling, totals £1.2 million and is expected to continue at about £0.25 million per annum for the next few years.