Storting debate on the “letter affair”

By Trude Meland, Norwegian Petroleum Museum

When the Storting (parliament) considered the field development plan for Statfjord, a letter from the licensees dated 3 June 1976 had reported a significant increase in the estimated cost.

— “A huge error by the ministry? Hectic activity at the Ministry of Industry”. Headline in Stavanger Aftenblad, 18 August 1976

But industry minister Bjartmar Gjerde was not aware of its existence when he mounted the Storting’s podium to support the big development plans. The letter lay in a filing cabinet in his ministry.

A political drama – known as the “letter affair” – erupted when this document was revealed. Gjerde was accused by opposition politicians of concealing information from the Storting.

On 23 November, Labour prime minister Odvar Nordli made the matter an issue of confidence in the whole government following criticism levelled at Gjerde by a majority of the Storting’s standing committee on industry. Nordli stated that his government could not accept this non-socialist motion receiving majority support of the full house. In the end, it was defeated by two votes.

To learn more, see the article: Keeping parliament informed