§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the airborne surveillance systems acquired for the control and direction of counter pollution operations during a major oil spill incident at sea have now been evaluated?
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)Yes, and I am pleased to say that after extensive trials the equipment has also shown itself to be capable of distinguishing between permitted operational oil discharges and from ships at sea and those which are substantially in excess of permitted levels. Accordingly, I have authorised the establishment of a programme of routine anti-pollution surveillance patrols over the North Sea and other UK coastal waters both to detect and deter illegal oil pollution from shipping. The patrols will begin in April of next year and will be carried out in collaboration with other North Sea coastal states.