To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce a licensing fee for oil companies operating in the North sea to cover the cost of providing health and safety inspectors in connection with their operations.

The Health and Safety Commission has not adopted a general policy onshore of charging to cover the costs of health and safety inspection, in view of the difficulties of devising an equitable and workable system. Similar considerations apply offshore, but charges will continue to be made to cover the costs of regular examinations of life-saving appliances and fire-fighting equipment on installations.