Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to paragraph 3.3.3 of the Oil and Gas UK health and safety report 2014, what discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions, (b) the Health and Safety Executive, (c) the Oil and Gas Authority, (d) trade unions and (e) Oil and Gas UK on the growth of the safety-critical maintenance backlog recorded in that report.

At an official level, DECC has regular contact with DWP, the Health and Safety Executive, the Oil and Gas Authority and Oil and Gas UK on a range of issues relating to the oil and gas industry, including maintenance of offshore infrastructure.