HC Deb 13 July 1984 vol 63 cc695-6W
Mr. Wilson

asked the Secretary of Scotland if he will publish figures to show (a) the percentage of all those who are employed in offshore oil work in the Scottish sector of the North sea who are (i) normally domiciled in Scotland, (ii) domiciled in other parts of the United Kingdom and (iii) foreign nationals and (b) what percentage of those who are employed in onshore oil-related work in Scotland are (i) normally domiciled in Scotland, (ii) domiciled in other parts of the United Kingdom and (iii) foreign nationals.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Up-to-date information on region of residence of those employed on offshore oil work is not available but the results of a September 1979 Department of Energy survey of the work force on oil and gas production platforms and mobile rigs gave a breakdown by main area of residence of the offshore work force. The figures detailed relate to activity in the northern North Sea (id est, the waters east of Scotland and in the Shetland basin).

For those employed offshore on platforms and rigs in the northern North sea in 1979 the percentages by area of residence were:

per cent.
(i) Scotland 59
(ii) Rest of United Kingdom 35
(iii) Non-United Kingdom 6

No allowance has been made for, first, cross median fields, late returns and installations missed out and, second a significant number of survey returns where no information was given on residence. As a consequence the percentages should be treated as indicative rather than exact.

The Inland Revenue survey of offshore employment in companies with offshore production and exploration licences for blocks on the UKCS provides information for 1982 on the nationality of the offshore labour force. The figures cover all vessels and installations in the non-southern basin areas of the UKCS and are based on actual survey returns. Of the work force surveyed 16.6 per cent were foreign nationals.

No allowance is made for omitted vessels/installations and the failure of respondents to fill in employee nationality, and grossing-up of the data for employees onshore on leave, sick or undergoing training has not been done. The figures should again be treated as indicative rather than exact.

Information on the area of residence or nationality of those employed in onshore oil related work in Scotland is not available.