HC Deb 18 November 1953 vol 520 cc1701-3
14. Sir T. Moore

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he can now give a report on the result of the international consultations on the subject of eliminating the pollution of the sea by oil.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Hugh Molson)

The international consultations that have taken place on this subject since the war have amounted to little more than an interchange of information. As my right hon. Friend indicated on 11th November in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Cardiff, South-East (Mr. Callaghan), following the issue of the recent Report of the Committee on the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, which underlines the urgent need to seek the cooperation of other countries in preventing pollution of the seas, we have decided to invite the principal maritime powers to attend a special conference as early as possible next year.

Sir T. Moore

Will my hon. Friend recall that it is now some months ago since the former and popular Under-Secretary for Air—whom I am glad to see sitting beside him—assured me that this matter was being taken up urgently with the United Nations with a view to having separators established in order to save the thousands of sea birds which are killed every year?

Mr. Molson

The recommendation of the Committee was that Her Majesty's Government should seek the agreement of other maritime countries to the fixing of a date after which discharge of oil into the sea would be prohibited. It is in order to obtain that agreement as soon as possible that my right hon. Friend is convening this conference early next year.

Mr. Awbery

Would the Minister give instructions to our own shipping that they should not eject oil within 10 miles of our own coast?

Mr. Molson

That is obviously a matter that will arise as soon as an agreement has been reached.

Mr. G. R. Howard

Does not my hon. Friend think that Her Majesty's Government might take some steps, even before some international action, to give a lead to other nations and show them how we think the problem can best be dealt with?

Mr. Manuel

Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider a very vexed question that is worrying many seaside local authorities who have spent vast sums of money in keeping their own beaches clear by putting in plant so that sewage will not be distributed along the beaches in their areas? Their whole work is becoming nullified because the discharge of oil on these beaches is destroying bathing facilities and everything else. We should try to set some example so far as our own shipping is concerned that will give a lead to other nations.

Mr. Molson

I shall certainly take note of the point which has been raised, but it is obvious that the evil to which the hon. Gentleman is referring cannot be rectified merely by British ships taking action. It is essential that we should get international agreement on the subject.