§ Lord KENNETasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the charge on public funds of the oil pollution unit in the Depart- 659WA ment of Trade; and how much of its expenditure since its creation has been reclaimed from industry.
§ Lord TREFGARNEThe staff costs of the Marine Pollution Control Unit in the current financial year will amount to some £205,000. It is the Government's policy to include in any claim for reimbursement relating to an oil spill clearance operation a share, based on the duration of the operation, of the costs of the Department of Trade's counter-pollution arrangements generally, including not only MPCU staff costs but also the costs of other staff involved and relevant current and capital expenditure. Claims have not yet been made relating to the period since the MPCU was set up on 1st April 1979.