§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the report of the joint United Kingdom and Norwegian working group on technical safety standards for supply ships in the North Sea.
§ Mr. SproatAs part of my continuing efforts to improve opportunities for the British merchant fleet, I agreed last June with Mr. Arne Skauge, Norwegian Minister of Commerce and Shipping, that our officials should jointly investigate whether any differences in technical safety standards imposed by our two countries constituted an obstacle to full and free competition for supply ships in the North Sea. The purpose of this Group was to clarify the basis in fact for some of the rumours that were circulating about Norwegian protectionism in the North Sea. I have now given the Report preliminary consideration, and have placed a copy in the Library: copies are also being sent to the General Council of British Shipping and to the maritime unions. I intend to give further consideration to the Report's findings, and to any appropriate follow-up action, prior to my discussions with Mr. Skauge when he visits London in March.