HC Deb 06 December 1972 vol 847 cc433-4W
Dr. John A. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of coastal pollution by oil are known to have occurred in Great Britain in each of the last five years; and in how many of these incidents the origin of the oil has been traced.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Recorded coastal oil pollution incidents in Great Britain during the last five financial years are tabulated below. Occasionally several neighbouring local authorities have reported oil ashore, subsequently established as having come from a common source: each such report is recorded as a separate incident. Since July, 1968, the origin of 69 recorded incidents has been traced; the number of sources of the pollution was 14.

Financial year Coastal Pollution Incidents
1968–69 (from July, 1968) 18
1969–70 130
1970–71 77
1971–72 57
1972–73 (to date) 25

Dr. John A. Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases of pollution of the Cumberland coast by oil have been reported to his Department in each of the last five years.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Three incidents of oil pollution are known to have occurred on the Cumberland coast; all were in 1969.