First Minister's Question Time
As members are aware, the Parliamentary Bureau agreed last night to a change in the normal format of questions to the First Minister in recognition of the tragic helicopter accident in the North Sea yesterday afternoon. Iain Gray will ask the first diary question. That will be followed by supplementary questions from the main party leaders, after which I will suspend the meeting until 2.15.
Engagements
To ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the week. (S3F-1601)
I am grateful to you, Presiding Officer, for allowing me to make a short statement concerning yesterday's tragic events in the North Sea. The Secretary of State for Scotland, to whom I have spoken, will make a parallel statement in the United Kingdom Parliament in the next few minutes.
Just a few minutes ago, I received the latest update from Grampian Police. Eight bodies had been recovered following the accident. Another eight people remain missing and are, we must now accept, presumed dead. The names of the victims of this terrible tragedy will be released this afternoon. The Solicitor General for Scotland has authorised their release now that the next of kin have been informed.
The personal impact of the accident will fall heaviest on families in the north-east of Scotland, but it will fall also on other parts of Scotland and the United Kingdom, as well as further afield. A book of condolence was opened this morning at the Kirk of St Nicholas, in Aberdeen. The whole chamber and, I am sure, the whole nation will want to join me in expressing our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and loved ones of those who have been tragically killed in this appalling incident.
The facts of the incident, as we understand them at present, are that a Bond Super Puma helicopter, which was on its way back from the Miller field, came down in the water about 14 nautical miles north-east of Fraserburgh at just before 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Sixteen people—14 passengers and two crew members—were on board. The crash was catastrophic and the aircraft sank quickly.
A search and rescue operation was launched immediately and included two Royal Air Force helicopters, which were scrambled to the scene along with an RAF Nimrod that was diverted to the area. Lifeboats from Peterhead and Fraserburgh and a supply vessel, the Normand Aurora, were also involved, as were many other vessels including oil support boats and fishing boats that were in the area. I will talk about the emergency services in a few seconds, but we should also recognise the efforts of those—for example, in the fishing industry—who are not part of the emergency services but who respond as seafarers when an emergency is under way. The search, which is now a recovery operation, continued late into last night and was resumed this morning. Eight bodies were recovered and returned to Aberdeen at 04:30 this morning.
Activity at the scene is now focused on the recovery of the remaining eight bodies and of the aircraft itself. The details of the latest police report to me are that their priority remains to recover, identify and reconcile the deceased with their families and to support a thorough and full joint investigation of the accident. A humanitarian assistance centre for relatives was established this morning and is being supported by Aberdeen City Council, Grampian Police and representatives of the companies involved—Bond Offshore Helicopters, BP and KCA Deutag. The procurator fiscal is chairing a meeting today between the Crown Office, Grampian Police and the air accidents investigation branch to determine the next steps in conducting a thorough investigation into yesterday's tragic events.
The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and I went to Aberdeen last night to see the work of the emergency services, including that of the police, the coastguard, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. On behalf of the whole community, we expressed our gratitude to the highly professional and committed individuals who carried out the search, rescue and recovery operation in such trying circumstances. As I said, the recovery operation is on-going. Our thoughts and support remain with our colleagues in the emergency services and, indeed, with the many organisations that are providing and will provide support and comfort to those affected.
The mood in the operations centre last night was sombre. People said to Kenny MacAskill and me that it contrasted with the elation that the same people felt only six weeks ago following a totally successful operation to rescue 18 people from another helicopter incident. The tragic outcome of yesterday's event tells us that sometimes even the heroic efforts of the emergency services cannot overcome catastrophic events. Our respect for those in the emergency services should be absolute.
It is understandable that concerns have been heightened because of the close proximity of two helicopter incidents in the North Sea. However, we now know that the incident six weeks ago, which involved a different model Super Puma, was almost certainly weather related—the result of a fog bank. The incident yesterday was of a quite different nature. It was catastrophic in its impact and deadly in its effect. In terms of its death toll, it is likely to have been the second-worst aircraft incident in the North Sea, surpassed only by the Chinook disaster of 1986.
The investigation of yesterday's crash by the air accidents investigation branch began yesterday. I spoke to the Secretary of State for Transport, Geoff Hoon, yesterday evening. I know that he shares the wish of us all to arrive at an explanation for yesterday's tragic events so that we can learn the lessons and take whatever action is required. It seems clear to me that an inquiry in public will have to be considered. Law officers and ministers will consider that matter once the full facts are established.
We are all aware of the economic benefits—the millions, indeed billions, of pounds—that are brought by North Sea oil and gas. The Miller field alone, for example, has produced some 350 million barrels of oil in its producing lifetime. However, we are equally aware that those benefits can come at a dreadful cost in human lives. With the latest incident, more than 100 crew and passengers have lost their lives in aircraft accidents in the North Sea over the past 30 years. Of course, it is important to understand that in context. During that period, more than 60 million passengers have been carried, and tens of thousands of flights take place every year. Nevertheless, it is the Government's and the Parliament's duty, working with the oil and gas industry and its workforce, to learn the lessons of the accident and to do all that is in our power to ensure that safety is the ultimate priority for those who work in the North Sea. Let that stand as a memorial that we can give to the lives of those who died so tragically in yesterday's accident.
The Labour Party, too, sends its condolences to the families, friends and workmates of those who have been lost in the tragedy, and we join the First Minister in thanking those who have been involved in the rescue and recovery operation.
We often debate the oil and gas industry in the chamber. We argue about its future, its price, who owns it or who should own it, how it should be taxed and how that tax revenue should be spent or saved. We even argue about the extent to which oil and gas should be replaced by cleaner or less finite sources of energy. Meanwhile, we expect the tens of thousands of people who work in the North Sea to continue to deliver oil and gas day in, day out. Perhaps we would do well to reflect more often on the difficult conditions in which they do that work and the risks that they take, in an industry that is at the heart of our economy, to produce a commodity that flows pervasively throughout our society. That we do not do so is testament to an astonishing safety record in the industry, which makes tragedies such as yesterday's rarities.
Of course, offshore travel—usually by helicopter—is an intrinsic part of the work of the men and women who work in the North Sea, and their helicopter journeys have always been recognised as one of the most hazardous aspects of their jobs.
I have travelled offshore just once; others in the chamber have done so more often. Anyone who has done so knows how meticulous and how relentless is the approach to health and safety in the oil and gas industry. That, however, is no consolation at all to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, and our thoughts and prayers are with them today.
Those who lose their lives just doing their job are special to us all. We remember them each year on workers memorial day, later in this month. Thirty-two workers lost their lives doing their jobs in Scotland last year, so the scale of this tragedy is indeed very significant.
Does the First Minister agree that, beyond the immediate recovery, the important thing is to find out definitively what happened yesterday and why the crash was so catastrophic? Will he ensure that all concerned can do everything in their power to support that objective? How quickly does he think that findings or interim findings might become available?
I thank Iain Gray for his question. It is entirely right that, on an all-party basis, we have the opportunity to express condolences on behalf of the whole chamber.
The air accidents investigation branch started its investigation immediately yesterday. That investigation is on-going as we speak. Obviously, a key priority is to recover the helicopter and the black box, in order to understand the causes of the incident.
Iain Gray rightly says that, despite the generally excellent record in the North Sea, tragedies have occurred. This incident is devastating, clearly and obviously because of the death toll—the cost in human lives—but also because of its nature, which is very difficult at this stage to explain. That makes the priority of the AAIB all the more urgent as it tries to get to the facts. It has the ability, through working with the Civil Aviation Authority, to issue any interim instructions that it is necessary to issue. Both the AAIB's inquiry and any public inquiry that follows will be taken forward with the greatest urgency.
As I said a few minutes ago, the best and most lasting memorial in incidents such as those that have taken place in the North Sea is for us all to rededicate ourselves to finding out the causes, addressing whatever issues have to be addressed, and trying to ensure that safety is always paramount in North Sea activities.
Presiding Officer, may I echo the sentiments already expressed by the First Minister and by Mr Gray? On behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, I express our sorrow at the tragic events of yesterday. We extend our sympathy to the families, friends and colleagues of all those who have lost their lives.
For many of us, the petrol in our cars and the heat in our homes are everyday facts of life. It takes a dreadful accident such as this one to give us a stark and sharp reminder of just how dangerous the environment is for all those who work in and support the oil and gas industry in the North Sea. Of course, an inquiry will have to take place. We hope that sufficient facts will be available to explain what happened and why, and whether there are lessons that can be learned.
We pay tribute to everyone who took part in the search and recovery operation. As the First Minister has suggested, people from all sections of the community rallied to the call. They are to be commended for their dedicated efforts.
The community in the north-east of Scotland is close-knit, as are all those who work in the oil and gas industry. We hope that this Parliament's witness of their grief at this very sad time will bring some comfort.
I thank Annabel Goldie for the point that she makes on behalf of her party. She rightly says that the search and rescue operation by the emergency services mobilised people. The operation extends to literally hundreds of people who took part yesterday and who are taking part in the on-going recovery today. We do these things incredibly well, in terms of the immediate mobilisation of every assistance that can be brought to the scene. Within minutes, the first rescue craft was on site yesterday. The likely tragedy, in terms of the death toll, is a reminder that sometimes even those heroic efforts are not enough to save lives.
Annabel Goldie says, quite rightly, that the community in the north-east of Scotland has endured many tragedies in the oil and gas industry and the fishing industry. However, the impact extends through the North Sea family, through Scotland, through the United Kingdom and, indeed, across the world. As I indicated, now that relatives have been informed, the Solicitor General has authorised the release of the victims' names. Eight of them are from the north-east of Scotland, one is from Angus, one is from Dundee, one is from Dumfries, one is from Cumbernauld, one is from Liverpool, one is from Norwich, one is from the West Midlands and one is from Riga in Latvia.
The impact of the tragedy will be keenly felt by the victims' families and by people in the chamber and across the nation.
Today, and for weeks and years to come, our thoughts and prayers will be with the loved ones, families and relatives of the lost. We on the Liberal Democrat benches give our support to those who are involved in the continuing recovery work.
I have many friends at home in Shetland who work offshore. The helicopter is the lifeline transport service that keeps the North Sea working. Flying a helicopter requires immensely skilled men and women. However, it is not a pleasant flight. I have flown offshore in the North Sea with people from the oil industry. The strong men and women who ignore mountainous seas and gale-force winds do not enjoy the helicopter flights to work or back to Aberdeen or Scatsta in Shetland. There is nothing glamorous about helicopter flights. The islands that I represent remember all too well the tragic Chinook crash of November 6 1986, when 45 men who were inbound from the North Sea's Brent oilfield perished, one minute's flying time from Sumburgh airport. On that occasion, the impact and trauma were enormous, and that is the case again today.
Twenty-three years ago, emergency staff faced huge pressures and responded with the utter professionalism and courage that we expect. We had hoped that their abilities might not be needed in this way again, but it is already clear that the same professionalism and courage have been the hallmark of the offshore and onshore recovery work that has taken place yesterday and today.
It would not be fair to ask the First Minister questions about matters for which his Government has no responsibility. My colleagues Alistair Carmichael and Malcolm Bruce are pursuing those matters with United Kingdom ministers in relation to the statement that, as the First Minister said, is being made in the House of Commons.
The air accidents investigation branch and the CAA must act quickly. The immediate issue is to reassure men and women who are asked to fly today, tomorrow and next week. They must know that the helicopters are safe. If the UK Government needs to ground Super Pumas, it should. Lessons must be learned. However, today, our support is for the emergency services teams, and our thoughts and sympathies must be with the loved ones of those who have tragically lost their lives.
On Tavish Scott's last point, when I spoke yesterday to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Geoff Hoon, he was fully seized of the necessity of ensuring that the investigations proceed as at rapid a pace as possible. The AAIB is on the scene and the investigation has started. Lessons will be drawn and information will be gathered, and factually based action will result as soon as possible.
I understand that Bond Offshore Helicopters has suspended flights as a mark of respect. I also understand that the opportunity has been taken to carry out a full engineering check of the aircrafts. I hope that that will come as a reassurance to people, as the need for reassurance is urgent. Tavish Scott can take it as read that any findings of the AAIB will be brought quickly and firmly into course.
On the point about the rescue and emergency services, Tavish Scott is absolutely correct to say that the mobilisation that takes place is extraordinary, as are the efforts that are made by professionals and volunteers, such as those in the RNLI.
Kenny MacAskill and I can tell members that the atmosphere in the control room in Queen Street in Aberdeen was sombre as it became clear that the efforts would probably not result in the rescue of any human life. The staff contrasted the atmosphere with the elation that they felt only six weeks ago. Tavish Scott, I and everyone else in the chamber recognise and respect their efforts. We know that, in every instant, they make every possible effort to save as many lives as possible.
Meeting suspended until 14:15.
On resuming—