§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the fishing industry over possible anti-pollution measures and clearance of oil derived debris on the sea bed in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.
§ Mr. StrangMy Department has taken part in the consultations with the fishing328W industry that have taken place on these as indeed on all aspects of the interrelationship of the fishing and offshore oil industries. Moreover, the consultative group which will shortly be set up by the Government with the fishing and offshore industries is intended to provide a means whereby both sides can accommodate their various interests.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the Scottish tourist industry over anti-pollution measures to clear oil spillages from beaches likely to be affected by operations in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.
§ Mr. StrangIn our discussions with local authorities about the prevention or mitigation, of onshore pollution from oil spillages the interests of all those who stand to sustain damage from such pollution have been taken into account.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if lie will commission surveys to determine the likelihood of oil spill in the Scottish sector of the North Sea and publish the results of these inquiries.
§ Mr. StrangNo. We have considered all aspects of this question carefully and concluded that the risks are remote. However, both my Department and other Departments concerned will continue to keep a very careful watch on the situation.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the numbers, qualifications and locations of staff whose duties include assessment and monitoring of pollution hazards arising from Scottish offshore oil.
§ Mr. StrangSo many Government Departments and local authorities are concerned with the assessment and monitoring of possible pollution hazards arising from offshore oil exploration and exploitation that it is not practicable to list all the staff concerned.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has made estimates of possible oil loss through future normal non-accident leakages in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.
§ Mr. StrangThe discharge of persistent oil from pipelines and seabed exploration and exploitation operations is prohibited 329W under the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971. There should, therefore, be no such loss.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will consider establishing a fund to indemnify the fishing, tourist and other industries damaged by a major oil spill from development of Scottish offshore oil.
§ Mr. StrangA North-West European Regional Convention on civil liability for damage from oil pollution from offshore operations is being drafted. Meanwhile the oil companies will, it is understood, be introducing a voluntary scheme to provide swift compensation for direct damage if any oil spill is caused in the North Sea.