§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 341–42, on what date and by what process the tenders were offered for the supply of oil-skimming equipment to Bahrain; and if any further contracts have recently been awarded to Desmi Ltd.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 7 May 1991]: Two contracts—total cost £282,924—for the supply of six heavy-duty oil pollution skimmers to assist the Government of Bahrain in dealing with the Gulf oil spill were awarded to Desmi Ltd. of Stoke-on-Trent on 28 February and 18 March. The selection of Desmi was made on the basis of an earlier tender exercise for the procurement of heavy-duty oil recovery skimmers for their own stocks carried out by the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport in January. This was supplemented by further inquiries made by MPCU in the course of advising my Department on the most appropriate equipment for the needs of Bahrain. No further contracts have been placed by my Department for pollution control equipment.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if Innoval Europe Ltd, of Fraserburgh, is on his Department's tender list to supply equipment for dealing with oil spills; if he has information on the company's capabilities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 7 May 1991]: The hon. Member has written to me to draw attention to the features of oil recovery equipment manufactured by Innovac Europe Ltd. and I have passed on this information to the marine pollution control unit of the Department of Transport, which has the professional and operational responsibility for dealing with pollution incidents at sea. I can confirm that the properties of the Innovac systems will be taken into account in any future consideration of Government requirements for this type of equipment.