AMOCO (U.K.) BILL [H.L.] (Hansard, 27 October 1970)

§ THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)
My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a third time.

LORD MERTHYR
My Lords, may I be permitted to say a few words on this Bill? I want to make it clear at the outset that I do not want to divide the House on the Bill or even to oppose it in any shape or form, but, to put it shortly, the Bill creates yet one more berth for large oil tankers in Milford Haven, a harbour which, though very commodious, will soon be unable to accommodate any more tankers if the present rate of progress continues. It also creates yet another oil refinery, which will go with the berth. Soon there will be no more room, unless something is done about it.
I apprehend that there will be more Bills seeking to provide more berths and, more seriously—because the only vacant
16 space at the moment I know of is one which would excite great opposition if it were taken up by another berth and another refinery—there will be a great deal of controversy between the interests of industry and the interests of amenity and conservancy. I do not think I need say more about that, except to mention that the particular site I have in mind is wholly within a National Park.
What I am asking for is this. Some authority—either Her Majesty's Government or some other—should be empowered to co-ordinate all the applications for sites for berths and refineries. That is what is wanted. Why should such an authority not be set up? Why, for instance, should there be more than one berth required for all these tankers? Why must each company have its own berth? That is really the question I would ask: will Her Majesty's Government set up some body to co-ordinate all these applications?
A few years ago—I am told that it was when I was myself Chairman of Committees—there was a Private Bill in your Lordships' House to do this very thing. Unfortunately, it was thrown out—not through any Motion of mine, I can assure the House, because of course the Chairman of Committees has no concern with the throwing out of a Private Bill in a Committee upstairs. That Bill was supported by the Milford Haven Conservancy Board, which was established by an Act of Parliament in which the Government had a great interest. I have no interest to declare in this matter, except that I am a lifelong resident in the locality, and I know that my plea for some co-ordinating authority to be set up, late though the hour is, would be given a great deal of support locally. I am grateful to the House for bearing with me for a few moments.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABER-DARE)
My Lords, we always listen with great attention to what the noble Lord, Lord Merthyr, says, and I have made a note of what he said today and will certainly draw it to the attention of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales. As the noble Lord knows, the planning permission in this particular case is at the moment 17 before the Secretary of State and it would be improper for me to go into anything relating to the present Bill. There are two considerations that have to be balanced: one is the fact that for Pembrokeshire it is a great advantage, from the employment point of view, to have these large oil installations, and I do not think we should wish to do anything to discourage major oil companies, or other major industrial users of the magnificent deep water port that is provided at Milford Haven. I take his point, on the other hand, about amenity. On the point he made about co-ordinating applications, it is the case that the Pembrokeshire County Council are the local planning authority and have a policy on this matter. I expect the noble Lord is aware of it, but if he is not, I will certainly tell him about it later. Their policy with regard to the area around the Haven which they are prepared to see used for these oil installations is very clear.
The only other point on which I may comment briefly is on the matter of the sharing of berths. This is a commercial consideration and I understand that not many of these companies are willing to share a berth. But, as I say, I will certainly draw his remarks to the attention of my right honourable friend.

§ THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES
My Lords, may I remind your Lordships that this is an opposed Bill which was therefore considered by a Select Committee of your Lordships' House. The two Petitions against the Bill were withdrawn by agreement with the Promoters, and the Committee have recommended it for acceptance by your Lordships, subject to the Amendments.