HC Deb 10 March 1993 vol 220 cc590-1W
Mr. Norman Hogg

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sub-littoral monitoring of benthic marine communities in the vicinity of MV Braer has been undertaken to assess the immediate impacts of the oil spillage in the Shetland Islands.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 5 March 1993]: Adverse weather has prevented any structured programme of diving, although local divers have made occasional descents which indicate significant mortality of macrobenthic species. The marine nature conservation review team from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee carried out work between 25 February and 2 March but the results of this are not yet available.

Mr. Norman Hogg

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring of the marine plants and invertebrate communities in the shorelines in the vicinity of MV Braer has been undertaken to assess the immediate impacts of the oil spillage in the Shetland Islands.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 5 March 1993]: Adverse conditions prevented immediate post-spill monitoring. Scottish Natural Heritage marine biologists have recently visited the area, but their observations have not yet been assessed. Monitoring will be kept under review by the ecological steering group.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional funding he has allocated to Scottish Natural Heritage to undertake studies and other work in the aftermath of the grounding of the MV Braer.

Mr. Lang

[holding answer 25 February 1993]: None. On present information, Scottish Natural Heritage currently has sufficient resources available to it to fund such research studies or other work likely to arise following the MV Braer incident.