§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what was the number of ships convicted during the years 1967, 1968 and 1969 for the discharge of oil in British navigable waters; what was the amount of fines imposed in each of these years for such offences; and in how many cases costs were made towards the removal of the oil pollution.
Mr. GrantFollowing is the information:
Ships Convicted Fines Imposed Awards towards cost of removing pollution Amount of Awards £ £ 1967 … 54 13,994 5 342 1968 … 57 8,363 10 723 1969 … 65 14,460 5 792 Two of the convictions in 1969, involving fines totalling £625, resulted from prosecutions brought by the Board of 84W Trade; all the others resulted from prosecutions brought by harbour authorities.
§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what future action the Government proposes to take in conjunction with other countries to stop the discharge of oil within a certain mileage of land.
Mr. GrantAmendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954, adopted last autumn by the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) will extend and strengthen the present restrictions on discharges of oil at sea and will include a complete prohibition on the discharge of persistent oil from the cargo spaces of tankers within 50 miles of the nearest land. They should also make enforcement easier. The Government intends to accept all the amendments and to apply them to British ships. A Bill for this purpose is before the House. We are also seeking, through IMCO, international agreement on arrangements for the effective enforcement of the amended Convention when it comes into force.