HC Deb 23 July 1969 vol 787 c386W
76. Mr. Channon

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to increase the penalties for ship-owners and captains for illegally discharging oil from their ships.

Mr. William Rodgers

No. It is not primarily increased penalties that are needed but changes in the law to make it more easily enforceable. This requires international agreement, which we are pursuing in the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation. In the meantime we are improving our own arrangements for detecting offenders.