§ 22. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the increasing financial burden falling upon local authorities along the coast which have now to purchase special machines for cleaning the oil from the beaches and rocks to make them fit for holiday makers, and that this oil comes mainly from oil-burning and oil-carrying vessels; and if he will make it obligatory on all such vessels to install oil separators.
§ Mr. HayI regret the outbreaks of pollution which continue to occur, but it is fair to say that there has been an improvement in the position generally round our coasts. The best hope of further improvement lies in the acceptance by more countries of the International Convention—
§ Mr. AwberyI think that the hon. Gentleman is answering Question No. 23 now, and not Question No. 22.
§ Mr. HayNo, I am answering Question No. 22.
Dry-cargo ships registered in the United Kingdom which use their bunkerfuel tanks for ballast water are required to be fitted with oily-water separators. The extension of this requirement to other classes of ships is not necessary because other steps are taken to avoid pollution.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that when the number of oil-burning and oil-carrying vessels was small, this problem was insignificant, but that as the number is now growing quickly, and in a very short time almost all our vessels will be either oil-burning or oil-carrying, this problem will become very acute? Will he not make it obligatory that these vessels should carry oil separators? He has not mentioned that part of the Question.
§ Mr. HayI think that the hon. Member interrupted me when I was on that point. I will repeat the Answer. The position is that dry-cargo ships registered here which use their bunker-fuel tanks for ballast water are required to be fitted with oily-water separators. The extension of this requirement to other classes of ships—for example, tankers—is not necessary, because other steps are taken to avoid pollution.
§ Mr. AwberyOn the oil tankers.
§ 23. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that after the recent collision of an oil tanker tons of oil floated about causing damage; and, in view of the rapidly increasing tonnage of oil tankers and proportionate greater danger, if he will consider the desirability of having stationed at various ports such vessels as can proceed quickly to areas of collision to collect the sludge and oil before it is dispersed over wider areas causing much greater damage.
§ Mr. HayI am aware that as a result of this collision a good deal of oil escaped, and I regret the inconvenience caused in the area. Every effort was made by the Southampton Harbour Board, with the assistance of other interests, to prevent further escape of oil into the sea after the ships had been separated and brought under control.
We propose to review with dock and harbour authorities the arrangements and facilities available for dealing with this kind of situation.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that similar incidents can occur at other places round the coast? In most of our ports we now have ocean-going tugs almost ready to go into commission on call. Could he not provide vessels to dredge the oil, instead of it being allowed to escape to sea, causing no end of trouble?
§ Mr. HayThe point is that my right hon. Friend has no power to incur any expenditure on the provision of craft or equipment for the purpose that the hon. Gentleman has in mind. As I said in my original Answer, the harbour authorities are certainly doing what they can to help here, and we are discussing with them whether there is anything further that can be done.
§ Mr. AwberyBut if the disaster occurs five or six miles from the coast, it is not a matter for the harbour authorities but for the Admiralty. Could not the Admiralty do something in the matter?
§ Mr. HayPerhaps we had better await the outcome of the Conference on the Law of the Sea, now going on.