§ Sir R. GOWERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the large number of sea birds which are killed by starvation or suffocation in consequence of the crude oil discharged by ships at sea, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation 1779W making it illegal for ships to discharge such oil in home waters?
§ Mr. GILLETTI would refer the hon. Member to the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922, which provides that the owner or master of a vessel from which oil is allowed to escape into the territorial waters of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall be guilty of an offence, and shall, in respect of each such offence, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.