§ 67. Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he has considered the complaint of the South Wales Sea Fisheries District Committee 44W that the ship "Clydewater," owned by the Cia Atlantica Pacifica, S.A., Panama, appeared to discharge oil into the sea near the Smalls Lighthouse on 30th October; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have considered this complaint, but as the discharge complained of took place outside territorial waters proceedings cannot be taken under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1922.
As the hon. Member is aware, following the issue of the recent Report of the Committee on the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, which stressed the urgent need to seek the co-operation of other countries in preventing pollution of the seas, I have decided to invite the principal maritime Powers to attend a special conference as early as possible next year.
§ 69. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the recent international conference on oil pollution of the sea and beaches.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe hon. Member presumably has in mind the recent international conference convened by the Co-ordinating Advisory Committee on Oil Pollution. This was not an official inter-Governmental conference, but I gladly accepted an invitation to open it and I then announced my intention of calling a conference of Governments on the matter. At the conclusion of the conference a declaration of aims was adopted welcoming this and urging interim action by the other countries concerned to control the situation.