HC Deb 14 May 1981 vol 4 cc309-10W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the explosion at Sullom Voe on Saturday 9 May.

Mr. Younger

At about 12.05 hours on Saturday 9 May an explosion occurred in the power station within the Sullom Voe oil terminal during the inauguration of the terminal by Her Majesty the Queen. A boiler, which was not in use at the time, was damaged, as also were girders in the vicinity. No one was injured and neither the operation of the terminal nor the inaguration ceremony was affected. The building concerned was not on the route taken by the Queen inside the terminal.

Messages purporting to come from IRA sources and warning of the presence of a bomb were received on the same day, the first at about the time of the explosion. Detailed investigations were put in hand immediately by police and explosive experts, and subsequent forensic examination of material has confirmed that the damage was caused by an explosive device. Police inquiries are continuing.