HC Deb 01 February 1991 vol 184 cc699-700W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has made to the Saudi Government's request for the loan of small numbers of skilled pollution control experts and advisers.

Mr. McLoughlin

Two pollution control experts, one from the Department's marine pollution control unit and the other from the DTI's Warren Spring laboratory, arrived in the Gulf yesterday.

Both have considerable experience in dealing with pollution arising from oil spills dating back to the Torrey Canyon incident off the Scilly isles in 1969 and both have been involved in clean-up operations in the Gulf on previous occasions.

Their role will be to advise the Saudi Government on response techniques and any possible needs for additional equipment.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his meeting with EEC colleagues on 29 January about the standing task force of national experts on oil pollution going to the Gulf; and if he will give a breakdown of the numbers and experience of such a task force.

Mr. McLoughlin

The meeting held on 29 January at official level was of a technical nature aimed at assessing the situation in the light of available knowledge, considering possible response strategies and determining the extent to which the Community might be able to help if requested to do so by the Saudi Government.

Member states expressed a willingness to help and it is clear that much equipment and expertise is available if required. However, I am also aware that considerable counter-pollution resources already exist in the Gulf area as a result of existing contingency plans to deal with spillages of oil from tanker casualties and other sources. It is important therefore not to mobilise European resources until it is clear that they would be needed and not simply hinder the operation.

The EC task force has no specific number of personnel. It is drawn from member states in response to specific requests to the EC for assistance and its composition will vary from incident to incident depending on the type of help and advice being sought.