HC Deb 21 July 1975 vol 896 cc23-4W
Mr. Reid

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what stocks of dispersants are held at which Scottish ports to deal with any major pollution incident off Scotland's coasts;

(2) how many spraying kits are available in Scotland to deal with any major pollution incidents off Scotland's coasts;

(3) how many vessels, based at Scottish ports, have been adapted for an oil dispersal rôle.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The following information on stocks and equipment held, and vessels identified, by the Department does not take account of the resources of industry, with which my Department is in close liaison.

Commercial tugs identified as suitable for spraying Sets of spraying equipment Stocks of dispersant (gallons)
Leith 1 1 6,500
Dundee 1 1 4,500
Aberdeen 2 2
Invergordon 1 1 4,500
Pumpherston 4,250
Greenock 11 5 14,000

Notes:

(i) In addition H.M.S. "Jura" is permanently equipped for spraying with 6,000 gallons on board, as are fisheries protection vessels "Switha" and "Westra", the latter with 7,500 gallons of the recently approved dilutable variety. Two Greenock tugs also carry stocks in their tanks.

(ii) Provision of storage space at Aberdeen is in hand, and the Department has interim arrangements for supply from other sources in an emergency.

(iii) The location of stocks is kept under review, and particular attention is currently being given to the needs of West Scotland and of the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

(iv) My Department is also able to call upon general resources of the Royal Navy.

Mr. Reid

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the objectives of, and lessons learned from, "Operation Tadpole" held in the Clyde.

Mr. Clinton Davis

Exercise Tadpole, which took place on 29th May, was one of a series of exercises held around British coasts to test the Department's pollution clearance organisation.

The objectives of this exercise off Ardrossan were:

  1. (a) to test the effectiveness of the organisation and contingency plans in the West of Scotland district;
  2. (b) to assess the effectiveness of liaison with the Royal Navy and other organisations;
  3. (c) to test communications;
  4. (d) to assess the time taken getting a team of tugs to the scene of an incident.

The lessons learnt were that the organisation can effectively deal with an incident within reasonable reach of Greenock. Bearing in mind the time taken to get commercial tugs equipped and ready for sea, further bases already contemplated need to be brought into being for incidents further away. Liaison with the Royal Navy was such that a fleet of four naval tugs and four commercial tugs worked well under one command. Communications presented some minor problems. Lessons learnt which are of general application will be disseminated to other districts.

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