§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress he has made in his consultations with representatives of the shipping industry and other interested parties regarding the introduction of legislation to implement the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973; and whether he is now in a position to introduce legislation to implement that convention.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisConsultations are proceeding. Among the most difficult of the problems to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 30th April—[Vol. 872, c.457–8.]—are those requirements of the 1973 Convention which call for the provision, both on ships and on land, of equipment and facilities which have not yet been developed. Until those problems have been solved legislation to implement the Convention could not be enforced, and we are not yet ready to announce its introduction.