HC Deb 26 February 1990 vol 168 cc89-91W
5. Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he last met the chairman of United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association; and what matters were discussed.

Mr. Peter Morrison

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I meet the representatives of the United Kingdom Offshore Operators' Association (UKOOA) regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest.

58. Mr. Robert Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the serious accident rate on the United Kingdom continental shelf and the Norwegian sector, expressed as a rate per 1,000 employees in each of the last five years.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Figures for the United Kingdom continental shelf are as follows:

Year Serious accidents per 1,000 employees
1985 3.5
1986 4.5
1987 2.1
1988 2.9
1989 2.8

The statistics for 1985–88 appear in the reports on the development of the oil and gas resources of the United Kingdom. The figure given for 1989 will be included in the next report. The figures relate to injuries to persons but do not include deaths.

Comparable information for the Norwegian sector of the North sea is not available.

56. Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many new offshore fields were approved by his Department in 1989.

Mr. Peter Morrison

During 1989 my Department gave consent to plans for the development of six new oil fields and three new gas fields on the United Kingdom continental shelf.

48. Mr. Doran

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total loss of oil and gas production on the United Kingdom continental shelf as a result of unprogrammed shutdowns since 5 July 1988.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Some 30 million tonnes of oil production has been deferred as a result of major unprogrammed shutdowns between July 1988 and the end of January 1990. The amount of gas production associated with this is very small and the long-term loss of both oil and gas will be minimal.

29. Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what increase or decrease he expects in the output of North sea oil in the current year.

30. Mr. Couchman

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what increase or decrease he expects in the output of North sea oil in the current year.

Mr. Peter Morrison

I expect an increased recovery of output of North sea oil this year.

24. Miss Widdecombe

To ask the Secretary of Slate for Energy what progress was made during 1989 in reducing the number of fallow blocks in the United Kingdom continental shelf.

54. Mr. Lester

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress was made during 1989 in reducing the number of fallow blocks in the United Kingdom continental shelf.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The number of fallow blocks has been reduced during 1989 from 125 to just under 90, a fall of over a quarter, and prospects for a further significant reduction this year look good. I shall continue to press this initiative with determination.

25. Sir Fergus Montgomery

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much employment in the offshore oil and gas industry has increased since 1986.

43. Mr. Hayes

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the change in employment in the offshore oil and gas industry since 1986.

47. Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the change in employment in the offshore oil and gas industry since 1986.

Mr. Peter Morrison

Employment in the offshore oil and gas industry has risen from 22,300 in 1986 to 30,700 in 1989, an increase of almost 40 per cent.

20. Mr. Donald Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many wells were drilled on the United Kingdom's continental shelf in the 1980s and in the 1970s.

27. Mr. Rowe

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many wells were drilled on the United Kingdom's continental shelf(a) in the 1980s and (b) in the 1970s.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how many wells were drilled on the United Kingdom's continental shelf in the 1980s and in the 1970s.

Mr. Peter Morrison

The total numbers of exploration, appraisal and development wells drilled on the United Kingdom continental shelf in the periods 1970–79 and 1980–89 were 1,200 and 2,703 respectively