§ Q5. Mr. Alisonasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between Government Departments in the matter of preventing oil pollution of British beaches; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 23rd March to a Question by the hon. Member for St. Ives (Mr. Nott)—[Vol. 743, c. 333.]—and to the White Paper, Command 3246, published on 4th April.
§ Mr. AlisonWhat steps have the Government taken to learn from French experience in combating pollution on Brittany beaches, and which Government Departments have taken such steps?
§ The Prime MinisterWe and the French Government have been in close touch since long before the oil hit the Brittany beaches. We offered our help at that time and gave them a lot of practical advice based on our own experience. Equally, we shall learn from them. They, like us, have tried a whole series of measures, and some of theirs, like some of ours, have not been successful. But the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, which has been unequivocally in charge of this operation from the beginning, will be glad to gain any experience from the French.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the various Departments concerned are to be congratulated on the skill and alacrity with which they tackled this phenomenal problem—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—with the assistance of the north-west winds which blew the slick away from our shores?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I thought that that welcome was very clearly meant from all parts of the House, and was shown in the debate which ended in unanimous approval of 300 the White Paper. The Government claim no credit for the direction of the wind at the time.