§ Mr. BROADasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to take the initiative in calling an international conference of all maritime Powers with a view to securing concerted action to prevent the pollution of the high seas by the discharge from vessels of waste oil and tarry refuse which is at present proving disastrous to bird life, and from its growing extent threatens to damage our fishing industries and destroy the amenities of our seaside watering places?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKThe information in the possession of the Board of Trade does not support the statement that oil pollution is increasing, and I should be glad if the hon. Member will be good enough to send me any evidence on this point which he may have. As regards the summoning of an international conference, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member f0r Kingston-on-Thames (Mr. Penny) on 27th July, of which I am sending him a copy.