§ Mr. Nottasked the President of the Board of Trade how much progress has been made during the past six months to persuade further countries, in particular Japan, to accept the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil; if he is aware that the thousand-mile radius off Land's End within which discharge of oil is now prohibited provides an inadequate protection, in view of the Gulf Stream which carries oil to Cornwall and Devon beaches although discharged outside that radius; and if he will seek to amend the Convention accordingly.
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§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe Governments of Greece and Japan recently announced their intention of adhering to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil. It is expected that the Assembly of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation which meets in the Autumn will adopt a resolution inviting all Governments which have not yet accepted the Convention to do so as early as possible.
It is already an offence for British ships to discharge an oily-water mixture into the sea within an area extending 1,300 miles westwards from the United Kingdom. As from 18th May, 1967, it will also be an offence for ships of other Convention countries to discharge such a mixture in this zone. In addition, it will be an offence under the Convention for ships of 20,000 g.r.t. or more for which building contracts are placed on or after 18th May, 1967, to discharge persistent oils anywhere at sea.
These provisions of the Convention are an interim step towards the ultimate goal of complete avoidance of the discharge of persistent oils into the sea. This is the declared aim of Convention countries. It is the policy of the United Kingdom Government to do everything possible towards the achievement of this end.
§ Mr. Nottasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to enable stiffer penalties to be imposed on offending shipowners under the Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1955.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1955 provides that the fine on summary conviction for an oil pollution offence shall not exceed £1,000 but there is no statutory limit to the fine that may be imposed if a person is convicted on indictment.
§ Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps on behalf of anyone who should suffer financial loss as a result of oil pollution resulting from the wreckage of the 'Torrey Canyon' to ensure that adequate compensation is available.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuI regret that I cannot give such an assurance. Questions of compensation may affect a number of commercial interests.