§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will indicate the differences on the practices and procedures covering health and safety as between onshore and offshore installations; and whether he has any plans to harmonise them.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe general provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies both onshore and offshore. Safety onshore is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.
It is not possible to list all the differences in practices and procedures, since they are not all governed by regulations. The offshore safety regime has been designed to take into account the special requirements of the offshore environment. Where appropriate, onshore regulations are already applied offshore.