§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy with what frequency each oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea is required to be inspected by his Department's inspectors.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe Department's safety directorate carries out over 200 inspections each year. The frequency of inspection varies depending on the circumstances of the individual installation. But in general our inspectors would visit each installation at least once a year. In addition, the certifying authorities are required to carry out an annual survey of all offshore installations.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the dates of inspection by his Department's inspectors of each oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea since his Department assumed responsibility.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of serious injuries and fatalities for each oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea for each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 14 July 1988 at columns368–69.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the certifying authorities approved by his650W Department to certify the safety of oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea; and which of the approved certifying authorities inspected the Piper Alpha platform.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonA list of certifying authorities approved by my Department is set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 14 July 1988 at column367. "Lloyd's Register of Shipping" is the certifying authority for Piper Alpha.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the annual fee paid to the certifying authorities by each operator in respect of each oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea in respect of safety inspections.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonAll fees chargeable by certifying authorities are based on a formula set out in schedule 3 to the Offshore Installations [Construction and Survey] Regulations 1974: SI 1974/289.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what notification is required by his Department of a commercial relationship existing between companies operating oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea and a certifying authority;
(2) if he will list those cases where his Department has been notified of a commercial relationship existing between a company operating an oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea and a certifying authority.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe terms and conditions of the appointment of certifying authorities prohibit them and any other organisation or company in which they have any representation or interest, financial or otherwise, from entering into a commercial relationship with companies operating oil and gas installations they survey.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many inspectors are directly employed by each of the certifying authorities approved by his Department for the purpose of certifying oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe certifying authorities employ surveyors of many disciplines and they estimate that, in aggregate, 250 man years annually are devoted to offshore installations.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the qualifications required of inspectors employed by the certifying authorities approved by his Department for the purpose of certifying oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe certifying authorities are required to appoint competent surveyors whose suitability is judged by the authorities themselves and is measured by academic attainment and technical experience. The authorities are required to maintain a list of appointees.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea for which each inspector employed by a certifying authority is responsible.
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§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe allocation of duties for surveyors is a matter for the certifying authorities.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) with what frequency each oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea is inspected by a certifying authority approved by his Department;
(2) if he will list the dates of inspection by the appropriate certifying authority of each oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea since his Department assumed responsibility.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonEvery offshore installation must be surveyed by a certifying authority at least annually. A list of all the dates of inspection of every oil and gas installation on the UKCS can only be provided at disproportionate cost.