§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give full details of the ships, aircraft and other pollution control equipment available to the marine pollution control unit; where these ships and aircraft are based; and what plans he has to augment the unit's equipment.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 12 June 1990]: The list of directly owned or contracted counter-pollution resources available to the marine pollution control unit is extensive; copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
In addition, the unit can also hire equipment from commercial sources in the United Kingdom and can call 304W on assistance from other North sea states under the terms of the Bonn agreement for co-operation in dealing with oil spillages.
A full review of United Kingdom preparedness to deal with an oil spill at sea was completed last year after the Exxon Valdez incident in Alaska. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 6 March 1990, Official Report, columns 551–52.