§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make it his policy to review the remedies available to the courts when sentencing, after a finding of guilt, in respect of a case of oil pollution in British waters in order to ensure the equal treatment of British and foreign owners.
§ Mr. PortilloI have no reason to believe that the courts treat British and foreign owners differently either in oil pollution cases or in any others. Where it is not possible to bring a foreign owner before a British court the Department notifies the relevant flag Administration and invites them to consider prosecution.