§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to recover the container of lindane insecticide lost in the Channel; and what is being done to monitor the situation.
§ Mr. PortilloA container containing lindane has been lost in an area of the Channel in which, under a bilateral agreement, the French authorities are responsible for co-ordinating counter-pollution action.
The Department's marine pollution control unit has maintained close contact with the relevant French authorities throughout the incident and has offered United Kingdom assistance to locate and recover the missing container. We have been assured that they have all the resources they need for the time being.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the French authorities are taking samples of water, sediments and fish.