HC Deb 13 December 1988 vol 143 cc503-4W
Dr. Michael Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what statistics his Department collects about United Kingdom owned capability in major areas of offshore supplies.

Mr. Peter Morrison

None.

Dr. Michael Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what factors prevent him from quantifying in the Brown Book United Kingdom-owned capability in major areas of offshore supplies.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The factors are:

  1. (1) that our analysis of orders for the UKCS recognises all companies established in the United Kingdom and making a substantial contribution to the United Kingdom as British without any distinction on the grounds of ownership. This definition is in accordance with Government policy on inward investment and we are firmly opposed to changing it;
  2. (2) the data supplied by the oil industry since 1974 is on the above basis and a considerably increased workload would be involved in checking the ownership of companies, monitoring changes, and calculating orders on ownership basis. That extra work for the oil industry and for the Department is not justified.