§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the preliminary findings of the initial investigation into the alleged dumping of explosives at Birch Point in the Firth of Clyde.
§ Mr. LangA report on the preliminary survey and other investigations carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland is being published today. I am arranging for copies of the report to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The report confirms that although there were shortcomings in ICI's sea disposal procedures in the early 1980s, these were resolved satisfactorily with the full co-operation of the company. The evidence of the survey indicates that the movement of dumped material from the dump site has been due to fishing activity in and around the disposal ground. It is not possible to say how far dumped material may have been spread.
The further survey of the dump site, which I announced last week, is now in progress. To enable the survey to proceed undisturbed by fishing activity all fishing in the area has been prohibited for the duration of the survey. The results of this survey should provide the basis for decisions on further guidance to fishermen, the control of fishing activity and any steps to be taken in relation to the dump site itself.