§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what provisions exist to train coastguards in procedures to deal with oil pollution;
(2) what changes, if any, have been made to the coastguard manual in respect of new procedures to deal with oil slicks.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI have been asked to reply.
Her Majesty's Coastguard is responsible for passing reports of the presence of oil slicks to all concerned so that the principal marine survey officers of the Department of Trade and their staffs at our ports can take action to deal with oil threatening pollution of our coasts. The staff involved are trained in their duties through courses and practical exercises and coastguard instructions fully cover their responsibilities.
§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent in each of the last three years in remedying oil pollution off British coasts.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI have been asked to reply.
The Department of Trade, which is responsible for dealing at sea with oil threatening pollution of our coasts, incurred on actual incidents in the last three years the following expenditure, most of which was recovered from those responsible:
1971 … … … £131,238 1972 … … … nil 1973 … … … £23,860 These figures do not include the cost of maintaining an oil clearing organisation and holding exercises, or expenditure on beach cleaning by local authorities.