§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of people employed in(a) onshore and (b) offshore oil and gas-related activity in (i) 1991 and (ii) 1992; and what is his estimate of the total at the latest available date.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 10 May 1993]: The latest available information on the number of people employed offshore in the oil and gas sector in the northern North sea is for September 1991 when it was estimated at between 26,400 and 27,950.
There are no estimates of oil and gas related employment for onshore workers alone for either 1991 or 1992. The latest information available relating to the number of people employed onshore and offshore in companies with turnover in excess of 80 per cent. related to oil and gas sector is for June 1992. On that basis, the estimate was 82,800, compared to 83,400 in June 1990.