§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the further steps he proposes to take concerning the re-routeing of tankers out of the Minch and west of the Hebrides; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MooreFollowing the confirmation by surveys completed last year under the Government's civil hydrography programme that there is a route suitable for deep draught vessels to the west of the Outer Hebrides, I have decided to seek formal approval from the International Maritime Organisation for a deep water route in the area surveyed. If accepted, this will mean that the route will be prominently marked in magenta on charts of the area issued by all nations, which will also carry a recommendation that large tankers should use the route in preference to passing through the Minches. I am confident that the IMO's adoption of the proposed route will greatly assist in attracting tanker traffic away from the Minches.