HC Deb 25 July 1988 vol 138 cc82-4W
12. Mr. Jessel

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received about the safety of North sea oil rigs.

Mr. Parkinson

I have received a number of representations about the safety of offshore installations. The Government continue to attach paramount importance to all safety matters.

14. Mr. Prescott

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the trend in serious accidents and dangerous occurrences in the offshore oil and gas industry over the last five years; and if he has any plans to seek to improve the safety record of the industry.

Mr. Parkinson

The number of serious accidents and dangerous occurrences rose between 1983 and 1986, but fell between 1986 and 1987 to around 1984 levels. The upward trend between 1984 and 1986 partly reflects improved reporting procedures. The safety of offshore workers is of paramount importance and we are determined to continue to find ways to improve the industry's safety record.

29. Mr. Rooker

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many unpublished reports of investigations into explosions and fires on North sea installations his Department holds.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The information is not available in the form requested. However, in broad terms the Department carries out over 200 inspections and between 25 and 30 accident investigations annually.

33. Mr. Haynes

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has called for a safety report on all platforms operating in the British sector of the North sea.

Mr. Parkinson

All platforms operating in the British sector of the North sea are subject to regular and systematic safety assessments involving inspection by the appropriate certifying authority, the Department of Transport and my own Department.

38. Mr. Knapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what access offshore oil and gas workers have to(a) trades unions and (b) the safety inspectorate.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Offshore oil and gas workers have full access to both trade unions and the safety inspectorate.

Under a memorandum of understanding between the unions and the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association there is free access by union officials to offshore installations, where they can talk freely and confidentially to the work force.

The manager of an offshore installation is also under a duty to ensure that the telephone number of a representative of the safety inspectorate is posted in a conspicuous place on the installation so that people working on rigs can make direct contact with the inspectorate if they feel it necessary to do so.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many fires have been reported during each month in the current year on each of the North sea oil and gas rigs.

Mr. Peter Morrison

In total 16 fires on offshore installations in the United Kingdom continental shelf have been reported to my Department so far this year. The number of fires for each month is as follows:

1988 Number
January 3
April 1
May 5
June 2
July 5

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply of 14 July,Official Report, column 367, if he will publish such information as is available to him on the number of inspectors employed by certifying authorities on safety inspection work in the North sea in each year since 1965.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The certifying authorities estimate that in aggregate 250 man years are currently devoted to the survey of offshore installations. Comparable information for earlier years is not available.

Mr. Prescott

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many full-time and part-time inspectors were employed by his Department in the offshore industry inspectorate; and how many vacancies there were for each year since 1979.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The number of full-time inspectors employed and the number of vacancies since 1980 is set out in the table.

Date Complement Staff in post Vacancies
1980 (June) 28 25 3
1981 (July) 33 31 2
1982 (March) 35 32 3
1985 (October) 33 27 6
1987 (March) 44 36 8
1988 (July) 46 37 9

No part-time inspectors are employed. Figures are available only for the dates shown.

The number of staff in post has risen significantly since 1980 but has not fully kept pace with increases in complement. However, recruitment initiatives since the beginning of 1988 will substantially reduce the nine vacancies outstanding in the near future. Recruitment efforts will continue.

Mr. Prescott

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what evidence his Department has about the level of inspection, maintenance and repair work carried out on offshore installations for each year since 1979; and by how much it has increased or reduced over this period.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Operators are required under the Offshore Installations (Operational Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations 1976 (SI 1976/1019) to maintain the safety of installations and their equipment and to establish a scheme providing for their regular examination, maintenance and testing. My inspectors are responsible for checking that the regulations are complied with. Details of the level of maintenance and repair work can be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

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