Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the UK has the capacity to (a) decommission, (b) recycle and (c) scrap the retired semi-submersible drilling rigs (i) Ocean Guardian, (ii) Ocean Princess and (iii) Ocean Nomad; and if he will make a statement.

The Ocean Guardian, Ocean Princess and Ocean Nomad are in Scottish waters and the Scottish Environment and Protection Agency is engaging with their owners on the waste implications arising from their decommissioning. There have been a number of reports released over the last few years which have identified many different ports in the UK have the potential to carry out this work and a number of ports and associated recycling/dismantling facilities across the UK have expressed an interest in decommissioning opportunities when they arise.