Dr. Bennettasked the First Lord of the Admiralty to publish the findings of the inquiry of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, into the recent fouling of Portsmouth Harbour with oil; in particular, whether the oil was bunker, crude or of other composition; from what source it came; whether it is the only such discharge recently; and to what extent the circumstances of an equinoctial spring tide is what has caused it to attract such attention.
§ Mr. J. P. L. ThomasInvestigation has shown that this pollution probably originated in H.M.S. "Ark Royal" at Spithead. The combination of wind and tide on 23rd March gave the ship a list which, it is believed, enabled bunker fuel to leak from a faulty tank. Steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence should these conditions be repeated before the leak can be repaired.
I much regret this incident. Although there is no positive proof that H.M.S. "Ark Royal" was responsible and although, if she were, the circumstances could not have been foreseen or prevented, the Admiralty is prepared to accept liability for damage caused and the local naval authorities are arranging for early settlement of reasonable claims.
There is no evidence of other similar discharges of oil from Her Majesty's ships or Admiralty-controlled vessels in the recent past.