§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sanctions his Department has over the owners of foreign vessels which cause pollution within United Kingdom territorial waters.
§ Mr. PortilloWhere the owner of a foreign vessel has a registered office in the United Kingdom he may be prosecuted in United Kingdom courts and fined up to £50,000 of summary conviction; otherwise the Department notifies the relevant flag administration and asks it to consider prosecution. In addition the costs of the clean-up are recovered from the owners.