§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many scientists have worked on the research programme of his Department on sea pollution matters, for each year since 1975.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 27 November 1987]: The estimated man years of scientific effort deployed by my Department on work in connection with the protection of the marine environment are:
Number 1978–79 101 1979–80 85 1980–81 95 1981–82 90 1982–83 86 1983–84 97 1984–85 88 1985–86 105 1986–87 117 Figures for earlier years are not readily available.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his Department's research staff responsible for matters related to pollution in the North sea have been working in his Department for more than five years.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 27 November 1987]: Sixty-one of my Department's scientific staff undertaking work which includes matters related to pollution in the North sea have been employed by the Ministry for more than five years.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what role the fisheries protection service plays in the monitoring and policing of the oil pollution from ships(a) in the North sea and (b) elsewhere in the United Kingdom's territorial waters.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 24 November 1987]: The aircraft and vessels of the fisheries protection service are required to report any oil pollution which impinges on fisheries to the appropriate enforcement authorities. Prime responsibility within the United Kingdom for monitoring and policing illegal discharges from ships at sea rests with the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport.