§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that local authorities have the necessary powers and resources to deal with oil pollution.
§ Mr. Denis Howell:Local authorities have adequate powers under section 138 of the Local Government Act 1972 to deal with coastal oil pollution. It is for each local authority to decide what resources to allocate for this purpose in its own area, but if pollution should occur on a scale beyond the capacity of local resources then central Government assistance would be available.
As my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales reminded the House in the recent debate on oil pollution, a review of arrangements for dealing with major oil pollution of the coasts has been set in hand, and my Department is in consultation with the local authority associations.