§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in accordance with the recommendations in the annual report of the Advisory Committee on Oil Pollution, he will take steps to carry out any of the proposals therein, specifically the updating of the present Admiralty charts, the limiting of the size of super-tankers, a special early warning system on oil spillage, and monitoring for ships loading oil or unloading it.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI have noted the committee's report with interest and many of the matters on which it comments are in hand. I would particularly endorse the view expressed that the 1969 amendments to the 1954 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, which have already been implemented by the United Kingdom, should be brought generally into force as quickly as possible.
The updating of Admiralty charts, including the re-survey of sea areas, is a matter for the Secretary of State for Defence. The promulgation of up-to-date data for the correction of charts goes
712Wexports of motor cars for each of the last five years and for each month of the current year until the latest date for which figures are available; and what part of the totals relate to (a) Japan (b) West Germany and (c) the original member States of the EEC.
§ Mr. DeakinsWith the exception of the figures for the EEC (6) after 1972, this information can be found under SITC(R) 732.1 in Tables II and IV of the Annual Statement of Overseas Trade of the United Kingdom for years 1970 to 1972; and in Tables III and VI of the December issue for years 1973 and 1974, and the January, February and March issues of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom for the months of 1975. Figures for the EEC (6) after 1972 are as follows:
on continually by various means, and my right hon. Friend is not aware of any complaint on that score. The United Kingdom has in recent years, in conjunction with a number of other North Sea States, surveyed deep draught routes in the southern part of the North Sea. More recently a hydrographic study group has been identifying present and future survey requirements and determining relative priorities. My Department endeavours within its competence to ensure that safety measures for very large ships are adequate and enforced.
As regards early warning of oil spillages, there are already effective arrangements for reporting spillages at sea, and my Department has recently issued up-to-date advice on the separation of oil and seawater systems aboard tankers.