§ Earl COWLEYMy 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 what proportion of the signatory States of the 1971 Convention on the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund have ratified it and whether it is in force.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)My Lords, seventeen States, including the United Kingdom, have signed the Convention and two more have acceded. Only two States have ratified the Convention and it is not yet in force.
§ Earl COWLEYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask whether he thinks that it is regrettable, to say the least, since the Convention has been open for ratification for over three years and there have been numerous examples of oil pollution since then, that the Convention has yet to be ratified and put into force? What consultations have the Government had with other signatory States to change this state of affairs?
Lord GORONWY ROBERTSMy Lords, we certainly wish to see this Convention ratified as soon as possible. Our own position depends on our being able to complete legislation—and we hope to get it this year—to make good deficiencies in the Merchant Shipping Act 1974 which did not have a territorial clause 402 covering the Dependencies. We expect to put that right this year. The two States which have ratified will shortly be joined by five States, with whom we have had the kind of consultations referred to, bringing the number up to seven. Our own ratification, depending upon legislation, will bring the number to eight. Hopefully, we should see this valuable and necessary Convention ratified and implemented this year.
§ Lord LLOYD of KILGERRANMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether in view of his Answer it is likely that the Government will ratify this Convention in 1975? The second supplementary question is this. May I ask whether one of the reasons for the delay in ratification is that the Government desire to free the English Channel of oil tankers of over 50,000 tons because of possible violations in relation to pollution activities.
Lord GORONWY ROBERTSMy Lords, our attitude is entirely governed by the need to negotiate legislation dealing with the position of our dependent territories, for the reasons I have given. We expect to get that legislation through this year, and therefore to ratify and join the other seven States, making the total of eight which will lead to implemention of the Convention.
§ Lord LLOYD of KILGERRANMy Lords, does the noble Lord require notice of the second part of my supplementary question in relation to tankers of over 50,000 ton capacity?
Lord GORONWY ROBERTSMy Lords, I shall certainly look into it. Perhaps the noble Lord might have a word with me about it.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether eight signatories will mean that the Convention is automatically brought into operation, and whether that number would really be sufficient to make the Convention effective?
Lord GORONWY ROBERTSMy Lords, it would make it effective in regard to those who have ratified and who were therefore implementing it; but we should continue to press for ratification by a much wider range than the minimum requisite of eight maritime countries. The 403 Convention will come into force 90 days after effective ratification by eight member States.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, could the noble Lord tell us who the glorious eight —or, the glorious seven with the United Kingdom—will be?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am happy to be in a position to give the names of the side. Liberia and Syria have already ratified. By 1st April 1975, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France and the Federal Republic of Germany will have ratified, we think; and we ourselves expect to ratify consequent upon legislation this year.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, would the noble Lord agree that, apart from the question of ensuring against accidents and providing compensation, the creation of oil slicks through the irresponsible washing out of tanks by vessels on the high seas should be treated as an offence against the international community?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, there is general agreement that that should be so. Whether it is part of the present provisions I could not say without notice. Certainly it is a point on which I should like to have consultations. The noble Lord will be raising a similar matter when we come to the Question standing in his name.
§ Baroness WHITEMy Lords, can my noble friend say what progress has been made with the ratification of the 1969 Amendments to the 1954 Convention on Oil Pollution at Sea? My intimation is that we are still lacking no fewer than 12 signatories to make those important Amendments which touch on the Question to be put by the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Croy.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I take it that the noble Baroness is referring to the proposed Convention and Protocol which will deal with oil pollution as such; and not with the compensation provisions raised by this Question. Possibly when the noble Lord, Lord Campbell of Croy, puts the next Question my noble friend will wish to raise that point.