asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the Government-assisted purchase by the British National Oil Corporation of a drilling rig from the Marathon Shipbuilding Company (UK) Limited.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intended giving a specific direction to BNOC to place an order for a new class Rig 385 deep water jacket so as to maintain work at Marathon's yard in Clydebank before the corporation found a buyer for the rig; and what would be the estimated cost.
pursuant to the answer [Official Report, 23rd February 1977; Vol. 926, c. 606], gave the following information:On 21st December 1976, the Government announced their decision to provide substantial financial assistance to BNOC in order that the corporation should purchase a drilling rig from Marathon's Clydebank yard. Since then we have been discussing with BNOC and Marathon the type of rig to be ordered and the arrangements for this assistance. As a result of these discussions the Government have concluded that the most appropriate design to build is the type 84 jack-up. Marathon has had most success with this type of rig at Clydebank and it is a well-proven exploration tool in various areas of the world. It will ensure the earliest possible build-up of work at the Marathon yard. Accordingly, I have asked BNOC to enter into substantive negotiations with Marathon for the purchase of such a rig, within guidelines laid down by the Government.In view of the fact that the Government have such a large financial commitment to the contract, they will require to approve the terms and conditions of the contract, though the detailed conduct
| PERCENTAGES OF ALL SCHOOL LEAVERS | ||||
| No "A" levels one or more CSE grade 1 and "0" level grades A-C | No "A" levels CSE grace 2–5 "O" level grades D and E | One or more "A" levels | ||
| (a) ILEA | … | 26·1 | 32·9 | 15·6 |
| (b) Outer London Boroughs | … | 34·2 | 30·3 | 17·7 |