Safety plans dropped - two years before Piper Alpha

Newly released documents show plans to improve offshore safety were shelved by the UK Government in 1986.

Published 30th Dec 2014

It's emerged Margaret Thatcher's Government cut plans to improve North Sea safety - two years before the Piper Alpha disaster.

The energy secretary at the time admitted the sector needed extra cash - but they decided it wasn't a priority.

167 men lost their lives in 1988.

The Cullen Inquiry into the tragedy led to widescale health and safety improvements offshore.