§ Mr. Rhodesasked the President of the Board of Trade if Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify the International Convention of Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, signed under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation at Brussels in November, 1969.
§ Mr. Goronwy Roberts:Yes, we intend to ratify this Convention, which was signed by 19 States including the United Kingdom, and copies of which have been placed in the Library. It provides a considerable improvement in the legal position of the claimant in the event of marine oil pollution damage. Though it contains some undesirable features, which we will seek to avoid in any future conventions on similar topics, I believe these are outweighed by the overall advantage to the United Kingdom in this case. The necessary legislation will accordingly be prepared as soon as possible. I sincerely hope that other countries, and especially the tanker-owning countries, will follow our lead and signify their intention to ratify this Convention.