Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the North Sea Forties pipeline shutdown, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that privately owned gas transport infrastructure is adequately inspected and maintained.

The safety and integrity of Great Britain’s gas transport infrastructure is governed by the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 (PSR) and the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (GSMR), made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Under these regulations, there is a duty on a pipeline operator to ensure that a pipeline is designed and constructed to appropriate standards and operated, managed and maintained safely.

In addition, the Health and Safety Executive develops inspection and intervention plans, based on the risk profile of work activities, and works closely with pipeline operators to ensure the risks from pipelines remain adequately controlled.