HL Deb 01 April 1980 vol 407 cc1332-3WA
Lord KENNET

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking in IMCO to secure international agreement on preventing shipowners and masters obtaining cover from P and I clubs etc. against fines imposed on them when convicted of offences against pollution control law.

Lord TREFGARNE

The Government have consulted informally in the Legal Committee of the Intergovern- mental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) in order to judge better the prospects for, and merits of, a more formal initiative in that organisation. So far these consultations have revealed significant difficulties in the way of more formal consideration, not least the work items of higher priority on the tight schedule of the Legal Committee.