§ 3.2 p.m.
§ Lord SandysMy Lords. I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what lessons have been learned from the recent marine counter-pollution exercise in the North Channel between Scotland and Northern Ireland.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, this annual exercise was one of a series to test the response of Government to oil spills at sea. This confirmed the ability to deploy rapidly available dispersant spraying aircraft to a forward operating airfield and validated assumptions on the amount of dispersant which could be applied at sea. It also provided practical experience of operating the recently acquired remote sensing equipment on an aircraft, and it exercised, tested and improved working relationships between the Marine Pollution Control Unit, HM Coastguard and other involved agencies.
§ Lord SandysMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that very encouraging Answer. Is my noble friend able to say how many aircraft and what aircraft are available to the Marine Pollution Control Unit, and what other means of pollution dispersal are available to that body?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, the Government have seven dedicated aircraft on contract. In addition to that, we also have contracts on 35 tugs which are fitted with spray dispersant equipment.