§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library(a) a copy of the plans and inventories of equipment and (b) a list of the expertise which is currently available to the marine pollution control unit and the Coastguard Agency; and if he will indicate how the availability of equipment and expertise to those bodies has changed in the past five years; [16258]
(2) what advice or guidance was given by the marine pollution control unit to Milford Haven Port Authority on its contingency plans for dealing with oil tanker casualties and major oil spillages prior to the Sea Empress disaster on 15 February 1996; [16257]
(3) what (a) arrangements and (b) memoranda of understanding exist between the marine pollution control unit and other departments or public bodies in Wales; and if he will place copies in the Library; [16259]
(4) how many staff were employed by the marine pollution control unit in each year from 1986 to 1996. [16261]
§ Mr. BowisI have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 18 February 1997:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the Marine Pollution Control Unit.(16258)
A broad outline of the expertise that can be called upon is contained in the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping (NCP), a copy of which is in the House of Commons library. The NCP also contains summaries of the counter pollution equipment owned by the Marine Pollution Control Unit (MPCU), listed in an appendix. The equipment and expertise available to the MPCU is under continuous review and is frequently augmented. For example, in the last five years the Chemical Strike Team has been strengthened, new equipment has been purchased for at-sea and shoreline clean-up operations, a new aerial contract has come into operation, a new operations room in the Agency's headquarters in Southampton has been commissioned and call off contracts and framework agreements have been set up to facilitate speedy access to supplementary expertise and equipment during a major incident. A database of available equipment has also been set up and is regularly updated.(16257)
Under the current voluntary arrangements, Milford Haven Port Authority sent the MPCU a copy of their 'Anti-oil Pollution Plan' revised in June 1992. The MPCU suggested a number of changes to the document. Following the grounding of the oil tanker BORGA at the entrance to Milford Haven in October 1995, the MPCU held a meeting with the Port Authority and suggested further amendments to the contingency plans.(16259)
495WThe current arrangements with public bodies in Wales are fully covered in the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping. The MPCU and Environment Agency are currently discussing a Memorandum of Understanding to replace the present one which was agreed between the MPCU and the National Rivers Authority. The environmental agencies, including the Countryside Council for Wales, are involved in these discussions.(16261)
Staff in Post figures for MPCU from 1986 to 1996 are as follows:
- 1986 to 1994: 13
- 1994: 9.5
- 1994: 10.5
- 1996: 12.5.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if inspectors of the marine accident investigation branch have interviewed the staff of Smit Tak who were involved in or associated with the Sea Empress salvage operation. [16262]
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the marine accidents investigation branch inquiry report into the Sea Empress. [16260]
§ Mr. BowisSubject to the completion of the consultation process required by the accident investigation regulations, the chief inspector expects to submit his final report to the Secretary of State next month. The report will then be published as soon as possible.