§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many persons have been proceeded against in Northern Ireland because of failures or defaults in adhering to the conditions laid down by him relating to the carrying out of abandonment programmes under section 9 of the Petroleum Act 1987; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many notices have been issued, under the terms of section 1 of the Petroleum Act 1987, in each of the past four years to persons in order to enable them to carry out abandonment programmes; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many proposals under section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1987, for abandonment programmes he has (a) accepted and (b) rejected in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how many abandonment programmes have been carried out under the terms of section 8 of the Petroleum Act 1987; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what vetting procedures are used in the assessment of (a) the capability and (b) the financial resources of those persons who have submitted or have given notice of submitting proposals for abandonment programmes under the terms of the Petroleum Act 1987; and if he will make a statement;
(6) who carries out the inspection of sites following the completion of abandonment programmes under the terms of the Petroleum Act 1987; and if he will make a statement;
(7) how many persons have been proceeded against in (a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales because of failures or defaults in adhering to conditions laid down by him, relating to the carrying out of abandonment programmes under section 9 of the Petroleum Act 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe following notices have been issued under the terms of section 1 of the Petroleum Act 1987 in each of the past four years:
1988 1989 1990 1991 11992 Offshore installations 280 12 29 164 132 Offshore pipelines 186 56 189 155 35 1 To date. During the same period, abandonment programmes have been approved in respect of the following installations: Piper Alpha, Crawford, Blair and Argyll, Duncan and Innes. None has been rejected.
The abandonment programmes in respect of Piper Alpha, Crawford and Blair have been carried out. The first 71W phase of the programme in respect of Argyll, Duncan and Innes is currently under way and the second phase will be carried out during the summer of 1993. All these programmes are subject to continuing monitoring obligations.
The obligation to submit programmes and to carry them out when approved is joint and several. The Department has satisfied itself in respect of every installation for which notice has been served under section 1 of the Act that there is among the parties served at least one capable of meeting the entire abandonment obligation.
Where inspection of the site is appropriate, the President of the Board of Trade requires certification that relevant conditions attached to the abandonment programme have been complied with. The certifying body varies according to requirements.
There have been no proceedings under section 9 of the Act against any party in relation to default in carrying out programmes.