Written question asked by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru) on Wednesday, 23 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2005. It was answered by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Thursday, 24 March 2005 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when the Export Credits Guarantee Department was supplied with a copy of Trevor Osborne's 18th June 2004 report on the field assessment of coating damage to the Georgian pipeline in relation to the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan pipeline; and when she first read the report; when the Export Credits Guarantee Department first received the results of ShawCor tests on the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan pipeline; when the Export Credits Guarantee Department first received the results of the BP-commissioned Advantica Laboratory tests on SPC 2888 used on the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan pipeline.

Answer: Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when the Export Credits Guarantee Department was supplied with a copy of Trevor Osborne's 18 June 2004 report on the field assessment of coating damage to the Georgian pipeline; and when she first read the report; [218554] (2) when the Export Credits Guarantee Department first received the results of ShawCor tests on the Baku- Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline; [218558] (3) when the Export Credits Guarantee Department first received the results of the BP-commissioned Advantica Laboratory tests on SPC 2888 used on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. [218559] Mr. Alexander: The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) has not seen these reports. ECGD, and the other members of the lender group, rely on the expert analysis of independent consultants who monitor compliance with appropriate standards and provide ECGD with regular progress reports. Although they may take account of relevant reports produced by interested parties which are brought to their attention, with the exception of some of the Advantica laboratory tests, the independent consultants have not seen these particular reports.

Secondary information