§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport Norway what plans he has to address any shortfall in the compensation funds available to those who have suffered from the Sea Empress disaster. [19785]
§ Mr. NorrisAssessments undertaken to date indicate that it is unlikely that there will be any shortfall in compensation funds from the ship's insurer or the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 755, if he will list the 67 member states involved in the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. [19480]
§ Mr. NorrisThe 67 member states are:
- Albania
- Algeria
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Benin
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
402 - Gambia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Liberia
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Marshall Island
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monoco
- Morocco
- Netherland
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Oman
- Papua New Guinea
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Republic of Korea
- Russian Federation
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Tunisia
- Tuvalu
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Yugoslavia
In addition, Tonga is expected to become a member of the fund from 1 May 1996.
§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what co-ordination arrangements he has established for claims for compensation arising from the Sea Empress disaster. [19438]
§ Mr. NorrisThe Government have brokered an arrangement with the vessel's insurers and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund to enable 403W them to establish a joint claims handling office in Milford Haven. Interim payments will be made to individuals and small businesses suffering financial hardship.
§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amount will be available from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund for claims arising from the Sea Empress disaster. [19437]
§ Mr. NorrisUnder the 1969 international convention on civil liability for oil pollution damage and the 1971 international convention on the establishment of an international fund for compensation for oil pollution damage, implemented in the United Kingdom by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, of the total of approximately £57 million available for claims for the Sea Empress, about £49 million will be available from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund and about £8 million from the Sea Empress insurers.
§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1996,Official Report, column 755, who will meet costs associated with the Sea Empress disaster in the event that the special drawing rights are exhausted. [19481]
§ Mr. NorrisAssessments undertaken to date indicate that it is unlikely that there will be any shortfall in compensation funds from the ship's insurer or the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. Under the international convention on the establishment of an international fund for compensation from oil pollution damage of 1971, should the amount of established claims exceed the amount available, the compensation shall be distributed in such a manner that the proportion between any established claim and the amount of compensation actually offered shall be the same for all claimants. There are also voluntary industry schemes, which may provide further compensation for the damage. The Government have agreed not to press their claim until other compensation is agreed.