§ Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent investigations his Department have carried out into the environmental implication of oil spillages from large crude oil carrying tankers on the Minch.
§ Mr. RidleyNone. My Department does not carry out investigations of the environmental implications of oil spillages in particular areas, the consequences of which depend on a number of factors, including the amount of oil spilt, its type, the weather and tidal conditions at the time and the speed with which a clean-up operation can be mounted.
But the general effects of oil spillages on the environment are well understood and my Department's marine pollution control unit spends just over £1 million a year on research into methods of cleaning up oil. at sea and on the coastline, directed at minimising those effects.