HC Deb 11 February 1991 vol 185 cc611-2
42. Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps towards the establishment of a Select Committee to consider the ecological disaster in the Gulf.

Mr. MacGregor

I have no plans to do so.

Mr. Dalyell

Should not an emergency Select Committee be set up to consider the entreaties of the Bahrainis, who are faced with the oil slick, and to consider the mangrove swamps and sea grasses which are the nurturing grounds for fin fish and shrimps? Does not the Leader of the House consider it odd that, instead of considering Qaruh, Ummal Maradin and the coral islands which are the nurseries for the larvae that are so vital to life in the Gulf, the House will spend six hours discussing the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Bill, a controversial measure which is not nearly so urgent as the ecological catastrophe in the Gulf?

Mr. MacGregor

I should have thought that there would be widespread support for the measure that we are to debate this afternoon. It would be entirely appropriate.

The hon. Gentleman knows that the United Kingdom Government responded quickly to requests for assistance in environmental and pollution control in the Gulf. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is taking steps to assess what more the public, private and voluntary sectors can do, when it is safe to do so. However, the matter is not an appropriate subject for a special Select Committee. If it wished, the appropriate departmental Select Committee could hold an inquiry in due course.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

As the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) has pointed out on several occasions, is not the underlying problem that Saddarn Hussein has been not just an ecological threat to the Gulf, but a chemical and biological threat to many of his neighbours? He has already invaded two other countries and poisoned many of his own people. We would be far better off if he could be put into balk. Then we could get on with discussing the natural heritage in Scotland without worrying about his impact on the Gulf and the world in general.

Mr. MacGregor

I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. He is right to make it clear exactly where the criticism should lie.