§ 54. Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reports have been received by his Department about pollution of the coasts of south-west England by oil in recent weeks; and what evidence there is to show the source of such pollution.
§ Mr. HayI regret that in the past few weeks there have been some new cases of pollution. Reports have been received of oil pollution of beaches at Teignmouth, Torquay, Bigbury-on-Sea, Port Isaac and Portreath, and the coast from Penzance to Lands End. Samples of the oil are being analysed to see if the source can be traced, but the results are not yet available.
§ 55. Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will state the number of masters or owners of ships fined for offences under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1955, since it 47W came into operation, and the range of fines.
§ Mr. HayBetween 8th September, 1956, the date the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1955, came into force and 31st December, 1958, the latest date at which figures are available, there have been 92 convictions under the Act. The fines imposed ranged from £20 to £900.
§ 59. Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what further action he proposes to take to secure ratification by the United States of America of the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI think that this matter can most profitably be pursued by means of informal discussions with the United States authorities. I hope that favourable opportunities for such discussions w ill occur before long.