Piper Alpha Report (Hansard, 5 December 1990)

§ Mr. Salmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the cost of technical and hardware measures outlined in the interim report of the Piper Alpha disaster and the Cullen report; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Moynihan
The principal recommendations of Lord Cullen's report deal with broad principles of safety management rather than detailed technical or hardware measures. The cost of any measures required or thought desirable in the light of the application of these principles seems likely to vary from case to case, and it is not possible at this stage to make any overall estimate of additional costs attributable to the implementation of these recommendations.

§ Mr. Salmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the percentage of the cost of the technical and hardware measures outlined in the interim report of the Piper Alpha disaster and the Cullen report which will be met(a) by the oil companies and (b) by the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Moynihan
The extent to which the future cost of any such measures would be borne by the Exchequer would depend on a number of factors including the tax position at the relevant time of the oil or gas field, and of the company, in question.

1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 (forecast)

Number of new buildings¹ — — — — —

Amount spent on new buildings¹ — — — — —

Amount spent on repairs and maintenance² £189,247 £71,704 £83,764 £231,542 £170,000

Amount spent on building renovation¹ — — — — —

¹ Expenditure on the Department's new headquarters building over the period 1987–88–1989–90 was borne on the Property Services Agency's Vote.

² Expenditure on minor new works and maintenance within the Department's delegated responsibility under the Property Repayment Scheme rules.

	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91 (forecast)
Number of new buildings¹	—	—	—	—	—
Amount spent on new buildings¹	—	—	—	—	—
Amount spent on repairs and maintenance²	£189,247	£71,704	£83,764	£231,542	£170,000
Amount spent on building renovation¹	—	—	—	—	—
¹ Expenditure on the Department's new headquarters building over the period 1987–88–1989–90 was borne on the Property Services Agency's Vote.
² Expenditure on minor new works and maintenance within the Department's delegated responsibility under the Property Repayment Scheme rules.