§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he has any proposals to publish a report concerning the running aground off the Welsh coast of the tanker "Christos Bitas" in 1978; and if so, when such a report is likely to be published;
(2) if he has had any discussions with the Greek Government concerning the publication of the report of their Government's inquiry into the running aground off the Welsh coast of the tanker "Christos Bitas" in 1978; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will make a statement on the measure of co-operation offered to Her Majesty's Government and other interested 315W British parties by the Greek maritime authorities on the inquiry into the running aground off the Welsh coast of the tanker "Christos Bitas" in 1978.
§ Mr. EyreThe Greek tanker "Christos Bitas" grounded off the coast of South Wales on 12 October 1978. A full account of the action taken by the Department of Trade to deal with the casualty and combat oil pollution was subsequently published in the Department's report "Christos Bitas—the fight at sea against pollution". Responsibility for the conduct of shipping casualty inquiries rests primarily with flag States. Accordingly, the Greek authorities commenced a public inquiry into the grounding of the "Christos Bitas" in Piraeus on 13 February 1979. The Greek authorities readily agreed to the United Kingdom participating in this inquiry.
The investigating court gave its judgment on 24 September 1979 in a published report. A copy of the report was sent to the Department of Trade and a translation has been made available to interested parties. I am arranging for a copy of the report and also the account "Christos Bitas—the fight against pollution" to be placed in the Library.