§ 76. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the increasing oil contamination on beaches in West Dorset: to what extent this is due to tankers cleaning their tanks at sea; whether he is satisfied that the present regulations governing these activities are adequate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MasonI am not aware that Dorset beaches have been much affected by oil in recent months but there has been serious pollution elsewhere. In some cases it has been identified as having been caused by tankers but in others dry cargo ships could have been equally to blame.
As regards measures to prevent or detect pollution I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Croydon, South, on 21st February. I would add that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is taking steps in support of the efforts of the Secretary-General 348W of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation to expedite the coming into force of the amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil which we adopted in 1962. These will give additional protection against pollution by oil.