HC Deb 04 February 1991 vol 185 cc42-4W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has had from the OECD in relation to the Gulf oil slick.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answer 1 February 1991]: The communique issued by the Environment Ministers of the OECD countries on 31 January included the following: In their statement on the environmental situation in the Gulf, Ministers condemned Iraq's recourse to the destruction of the environment as a weapon and pledged to strengthen the capacity of the international community to prevent and confront environmental disasters, taking particular account of the situation of developing countries. This would encompass, in co-operation with UNEP, the IMO and other relevant international organisations, the strengthening of international principles and agreements, and the reinforcing of technological and institutional response capacities as well as the possible establishment of liability verification and claims settlement procedures. In particular, Ministers stressed the urgency of an early and full implementation of the IMO Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness Response and Co-operation with relevant United Nations and other bodies, to develop a regularly updated register of information on technological and institutional response capacities.

I warmly welcome this statement. The pledge strengthen the future response capacity of the international community is in line with the initiative I put forward in the House on 28 January at column 656.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what predictions he has had from computer models at the Meteorological Office and the Proudman oceanographic laboratory about the likely behaviour of the oil slick in the Gulf.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answer 1 February 1991: One of the studies commissioned from the Natural Environment Research Council aims to develop a model with the Meterological Office which can predict the movement of a Gulf oil slick. Work so far has demonstrated the viability of the concepts involved and the project is continuing.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Natural Environment Research Council contribution to containing the Gulf oil slick.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answer 1 February 1991]: The Natural Environment Research Council is compiling urgent short-term reports to model and assess the biological effects of the pollution of the Gulf caused by the actions of Saddam Hussein. The first phase is now complete and is being made available to the Gulf states leading the response to the pollution. My Department is assembling a register of the United Kingdom marine scientific expertise potentially available for further studies of the problem in the longer term.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contact he has had with the International Maritime Organisation in relation to Gulf oil pollution.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answer 1 February 1991]: I understand that the International Maritime Organisation—IMO—has been approached by the Saudi Government to help co-ordinate the offers of assistance with pollution response equipment and expertise which it has received. The IMO has been informed of the United Kingdom response to requests from the Gulf states so far and the marine pollution control unit of Department of Transport is maintaining close contact with them.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his contacts with the United Nations Environment Programme for improving environmental communications in relation to the Gulf oil slick.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answer 1 February 1991]: Senior officials in my Department have been in touch throughout the week with the United Nations Environment Programme and its executive director, Dr. Tolba. The UNEP has asked the United Kingdom for help in its efforts to improve communications and technical co-ordination over the pollution in the Gulf caused by the action of Saddam Hussein and I shall be responding sympathetically as soon as it is clear just what form of assistance is required. The UNEP is calling a meeting next week in Geneva with relevant UN agencies, including the International Maritime Organisation, and the oil industry to identify gaps in knowledge and to identify a practical programme of international co-operation.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment at what time, on what date he first contacted the British Oil Spill Control Association about containment of the Gulf oil slick.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answer 1 February 1991]: The Government's liaison with the British Oil Spill Control Association is principally through the marine pollution control unit in the Department of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. The unit has been in close contact with the association ever since becoming aware of the spill on 25 January. My Department has been kept fully informed throughout.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what study has been made since August 1990 of the problems of dealing with oil slicks in war zones.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answer 1 February 1991]: Techniques and equipment for dealing with oil spills are the same whether or not the spill is in a war zone. It is for military authorities concerned to resolve any military aspects as necessary if the spill is in a war zone.