HL Deb 09 May 1972 vol 330 cc901-2

2.39 p.m

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether consideration has been given for the use of hovercraft in the dispersal of oil slicks around the coast; and what conclusions have been reached.

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (THE EARL OF LIMERICK)

My Lords, consideration has indeed been given to this application of hovercraft, and some preliminary investigations have begun using a Hovermarine HM2 sidewall craft belonging to the Department of Trade and Industry. This type of craft is considered more suitable than the fully amphibious types because its water screws and other immersed parts agitate the water, oil and dispersant. Further research has recently been approved, and experiments will continue in parallel with other trials on the craft. These will investigate the best techniques from the point of view of both efficiency and the effects on the hovercraft.

However, even though the technical feasibility may be proved satisfactorily, the absence of large numbers of easily available hovercraft does somewhat detract from their utility for the purpose, and it remains the general policy to provide widely disposed means for dispersal which can be applied at short notice to any available vessel in the affected area, which might be anywhere on our many thousand miles of coastline.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply may I ask him whether any actual trials have been carried out on oil slicks and, if so, what results have come from them? Secondly, how soon will the deliberations be completed? Finally, what numbers of hovercraft does he anticipate?—because he used the expression "a large number".

THE EARL OF LIMERICK

My Lords, my noble friend has asked three questions, the answers to which are as follows. First, specific trials have indeed been undertaken and have been reasonably successful. Second, my noble friend then asked when will the next trials be taking place, and the answer to that is to fit in with the other commitments of our craft but at present it is planned that it should be some time between the end of July and early October. As to the number of hovercraft that would be required, all I can say is that their range is not great and our coastline is very long.