HC Deb 06 June 1978 vol 951 cc51-2W
Mr. Miscampbell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new facilities for the protection of the Fylde coast against oil pollution have been provided during the last five years.

Mr. Shore

Local authorities on the Fylde coast, as elsewhere, have accepted responsibility for dealing with oil pollution on their coasts. Contingency plans for dealing with oil pollution on coasts and inshore waters were revised following local government reorganisation in 1974 and are regularly updated. Advice and assistance is available from my own Department and the Government's research station at Warren Spring. Central Government Stockpiles of oil clearing equipment are to be set up at strategic points to assist authorities faced with particularly severe incidents of oil pollution.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade is responsible for dealing with oil pollution at sea which could threaten our coastline. Her Majesty's Coastguard service and others give early warning to local authorities of any potentially damaging pollution incidents.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to public funds of cleaning the sea and sea shores around the United Kingdom which were damaged by oil discharged within the United Kingdom waters during the last year.

Mr. Shore

The costs of cleaning oil pollution from identifiable sources fall to be paid by the polluter in full with no resulting final charge to public funds.

In the case of pollution of seashores last year, where claims were made against identifiable polluters some were pursued locally and not all were reported to central Government. Complete figures are not therefore available.

In the case of pollution at sea, claims against identifiable polluters by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade amounted last year to about £125,000. There are no figures available of the cost to public funds in cleaning pollution from unidentifiable sources. These costs are carried by the Department of Trade sea clearance organisation or by local authorities as appropriate.