§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to her answer of 15 March,Official Report, columns 62–63, if she will list the length of time which elapsed in each case between a recommendation for prosecution and court proceedings taking place; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythInformation on the dates on which prosecution was recommended, and the dates of conviction is as follows:
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company Date of prosecution recommended Date of conviction Allseas Marine Contractors 20 August 1990 15 May 1991 Smedvig Ltd. 4 December 1990 9 March 1992 Amoco (UK) Exploration 4 December 1990 9 March 1992 Atlantic Drilling 17 April 1991 21 April 1992 Atlantic Drilling 17 April 1991 21 April 1992 Stena Offshore Ltd. 13 March 1992 9 May 1992 Stena Offshore Ltd.—employee 13 March 1992 8 May 1992 Sedco Forex Drilling Services Ltd. 12 June 1992 22 July 1992 ETPM Services (UK) 26 June 1992 26 November 1992 BP Exploration 21 September 1992 17 December 1992 Two recommendations failing to result in convictions were made on 5 December 1991, with the court decision on 22 May 1992.
Information on the dates when court hearings commenced are not readily obtainable and the reply therefore refers to dates of conviction.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will detail the time it took between reports of incidents involving breaches of health and safety laws in the offshore oil and gas industries and referrals made to the procurator fiscal in each of the past seven years; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythIt is possible to determine whether reported incidents on offshore installations involve possible breaches of health and safety legislation only after the Health and Safety Executive inspectors have conducted their investigations. If as a result of investigation a recommendation for prosecution is made, details would be referred to the procurator fiscal forthwith.