§ Mr. Miscampbellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what central Government stocks of oil-clearing equipment are now available to assist authorities in the North-West faced with particularly severe incidents of oil pollution.
§ Mr. ShoreThe Government are setting up stockpiles of oil clearance equipment in strategic locations in the United Kingdom to supplement the resources of local authorities.
The equipment in all the stockpiles will be available for use on any part of the United Kingdom coastline.
In addition to this the North-West authorities will continue to have access to supplies of dispersant and spraying equipment held by the Department of Trade and the wide range of support which is available from the Ministry of Defence.