§ Mr. Jeffrey Archerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he proposes to make for compensation in respect of the present oil slick affecting the beaches on North Lincolnshire.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsA claim will be made for reimbursement of local authority costs under the Tanker Owners Voluntary Agreement concerning Liability for Oil Pollution (TOVALOP). This agreement provides that participating tanker owners will reimburse national Governments—including local authorities—for expenses reasonably incurred in 121W clearing oil pollution as a result of negligent discharge of oil from one of their tankers. In the absence of reimbursement from the oil industry in any particular case local authority expenditure would fall to be dealt with under the 50 per cent. grant arrangements set out in Ministry of Housing and Local Government Circular No. 34/68 (Welsh Office Circular No. 29/68).