Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now publish the results of the follow-up work to the report "Accidents at Sea Causing Oil Pollution: Review of Contingency Measures".
§ Mr. John SmithYes. I shall place two documents in the Library next Wednesday. Copies will also be available from the Vote Office.
The first, entitled "Liability and Compensation for Marine Oil Pollution Damage: Report of an Inter-Departmental Group", recommends inter alia that the United Kingdom should press strongly for an immediate increase in the compensation ceiling for oil pollution damage and should seek to promote the 374W extension of the relevant international conventions to cover compensation for damage caused by the fuel from unladen oil tankers.
The second document, entitled "Improved Arrangements to Combat Pollution at Sea", embodies three reports. That on command, control and communications calls attention to improvements in organisation and in altering procedures. The report details the enhanced communications facilities recommended and proposes the creation of joint press office teams during anti-pollution operations, drawn from the various Departments involved.
The report on resources and research and development provides for a considerable enhancement of the present dispersant spraying capability; proposes that financial provision should be made for a retainer on a large dispersant spraying aircraft and for the acquisition of at sea oil recovery devices; and recommends a considerably increased research and development effort. The report on salvage concludes that the Government should not be involved in the provision of deep-sea salvage vessels but recommends the purchase of two caches of specialised equipment for use in off-loading a vessel of its cargoes and bunkers, and, where necessary, inerting cargo tank spaces.
The Government have accepted the proposals in these documents. The capital costs in 1979–80 are some £1½ million with recurrent costs of about £½ million, apart from additional staff which may be needed by the Marine Pollution Control Unit: this is being financed by a re-ordering of priorities within my Department's overall expenditure.
These developments will represent a considerable improvement in preparedness to deal with pollution emergencies, without the great expense of maintaining dedicated vessels which would rarely be used. Supervising and exercising these developments and the review of their adequacy will be among the priority tasks of the marine pollution control unit.