HC Deb 31 January 1995 vol 253 c594W
Mr. Spellar

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that floating production facilities for oil and gas developments are built in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Ancram

The industrial research and technology unit of the Department of Economic Development is in discussion with Harland and Wolff about possible Government support for the development of a floating production storage and offloading unit for the deep-water offshore oil industry. The company has been invited to submit a formal application to IRTU which will be subject to the normal rigours of a technical and financial appraisal.