§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide a breakdown for the financial years 1986–87 and 1987–88, and an estimate for the year 1987–89 for(a) the number of orders for North sea oil-related work that have been placed by oil companies, (b) a breakdown of these orders by the type of work involved and the cost, (c) the proportion of the orders by volume and cash amount that has gone to United Kingdom-based companies and the proprotion that has gone to overseas companies and (d) the country of origin for the orders that have been placed overseas.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonOrders greater than £100,000 are reported by offshore oil operators by calendar year.
The number of orders reported in 1986 and 1987 were 3,274 and 2,961. A breakdown of these orders into type of work, cost and overseas content is contained in the Department of Energy publication "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom", a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library. The United Kingdom content of the value of orders placed in 1986 and 1987 was 82 per cent. of £2.23 billion and 87 per cent. of £1.87 billion. The proportion by volume of orders won by United Kingdom companies for these years is approximately 87 per cent. and 89 per cent. It is not possible to give the overseas element by individual country.
A rise in the value of orders placed is expected in 1988 and again United Kingdom industry will be well placed to secure a major share of the work available.