De-commissioning Decisions: Unsuccessful Consultation?

Abstract

The previous chapter reviewed initially the electoral and group conflict interpretations on policy–making and found them respectively of little and limited relevance. There is in political science dissatisfaction with the sort of explanations that most non–specialists assume to be the business of the subject. The chapter also argued that there is a ‘standard’ operating routine in British and many other systems that relies on consultation. The consultation approach quite well ‘fits’ the initial dumping approval by the DTI ‘ and is described more fully here. Consultation was as big a feature of policy development in connection with the Brent Spar as in most other policy areas.¹ The DTI Consultative Document on the Abandonment of Offshore Installations and Pipelines under the Petroleum Act 1987 (May 1995) listed of bodies the DTI considered operators should consult. In Scottish waters this was:

Scottish Fishermen’s Federation

Orkney Fishermen’s Association

Western Isles Fishermen’s Association

Firth of Forth Fishermen’s Association

Scottish Natural Heritage,

Seabirds at Sea,

British Telecom International.

Because ministers and oil companies opted for a cosy cabal, they have been hit by a Greenpeace hue and cry (New Scientist, 24 June 1995).