§ 17. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the recent increase of casualties caused among sea-birds on the South Coast, and especially the Isle of Wight, as the result of oil fuel floating on the sea; whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the source of this oil; and whether, in any event, he will draw the attention of the mercantile marine and the Admiralty to the matter with a view to its prevention?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir. Inquiries as to the source of the oil have so far been unsuccessful but are being continued, and I am in communication with the Admiralty and with the Chamber of Shipping on the subject.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to a simple and inexpensive apparatus for effectively separating the oil discharged into the sea?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have heard of several instruments of this kind. The trouble is not that there is no means of separating the oil, but that the instruments are not always used.
§ Mr. GRENFELLHas the right hon. Gentleman had his attention called to an invention pretty well known in the country now which apparently does this very effectively?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere is no trouble about that. The instruments can be produced, but they are not used.
§ Major COLFOXIs it not possible to get some general international arrangement whereby the shipping of all countries is governed by the same rules for discharging this oil many miles out at sea?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI should like to have notice of that question. It has been the subject of communications with other Powers again and again.