§ 42. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further proposals he has to control oil spillage in the territorial waters of the United Kingdom; what consultations he has had with other countries to establish further regulations on oil-carrying ships to prevent oil spillage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John DaviesI have been asked to reply.
My Department has set up an organisation to deal with oil spillages which threaten our coasts, and this is continually being reviewed in the light of experience. The Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1971, will introduce new restrictions on discharge of oil, increased penalties for offences, and new powers to intervene in casualties which threaten pollution. Consultations are in progress in the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation on various aspects of the control and prevention of oil pollution in preparation for a Conference on Marine 337W Pollution in 1973. I shall seek to ensure that these have practical results.
§ 43. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the steps he has taken to deal with oil pollution on the coastline, in particular on the coordination of the rôles of local authorities, mutual aid schemes, and his own Department; and whether he is satisfied that there are no areas where the normal controls for which he is responsible have failed or been neglected.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerSteps were taken in July, 1968, to encourage all coastal local authorities to overhaul their preparations for dealing with oil pollution of the coastline, in concert with their neighbour. The arrangements that have been made include provision for mutual aid, all round the coast. Local authorities have frequently demonstrated their ability to deal with coastal pollution by oil, and my Department is always willing to provide advice.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of dealing with oil pollution around the coast of the United Kingdom for the 12 months to the latest available date; and how the total figure compares with the years 1965 to 1970.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe known cost to local and central Government in the United Kingdom of dealing with oil pollution in the 12 months ending 31st May, 1971, was about £531,000. This compares with £107,000, £35,000 and about £8,000 for the three preceding years. For the 12 months from 1st June, 1966, to 31st May, 1967—the year of the "Torrey Canyon"—the figure was approximately £3,300,000. There are no available records before March, 1967.