§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of the documents submitted to, and discussed by, the Paris Commission on oil pollution discharges from drilling production and storage offshore oil platforms since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on United Kingdom compliance with its agreements on oil pollution. [8355]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe Paris Commission has been in existence for 18 years and in that period has considered a very large volume of papers on the subject of the offshore oil and gas industry. It would cost an unreasonable amount to identify and copy them all. I am placing in the Library a copy of the section on "Oil" of the "Paris Commission Procedures and Decisions Handbook," as amended up to 1994, together with copies of subsequent relevant decisions: this describes the work of the commission in this area.
As far as I am aware, the United Kingdom is in compliance with its international obligations on oil pollution.