§ 55. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Convention adopted in Brussels on 28th November by 28 nations, including Great Britain, under which shipowners will be held responsible for oil pollution of the sea and its consequences, and also on the second Convention giving nations the right to intervene after an accident to safeguard their interests in the face of pollution dangers.
§ Mr. MasonAs regards the first Convention, I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given on 8th December to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell). As regards the second part of the Question, I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that the Convention referred to defines the circumstances in which a coastal State may take measures on the high seas to prevent grave and immediate danger to its coastline, or coastal interests, in the event of accidents at sea involving pollution by oil. The Convention requires that measures taken by the coastal State shall be proportionate to the damage which is threatened. There is provision for the payment of compensation by any Party to the Convention which takes measures in contravention of its provisions and for compulsory conciliation followed by arbitration in case of dispute.