§ Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will instruct the British Transport Docks Board to withdraw its approval for the mooring of a 60,000 ton liquid petroleum gas tanker in the Solent for use as floating storage;
403W(2) if he will take steps to prevent a 60,000 ton 900 ft. long liquid petroleum gas tanker from being moored in the Solent for use as floating storage.
§ Mr. David HowellI understand that the British Transport Docks Board is currently considering a proposal for the mooring on the Solent of a liquefied petroleum gas storage tanker. I appreciate that there is great local concern about this proposal, and I have drawn this to the attention of the chairman of the British Transport Docks Board. I have, however, no powers to intervene. The docks board assures me that it is consulting the Health and Safety Executive, and interested parties, including local authorities and yachting and amenity interests.