§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what checks are carried out to test what chemicals may be disposed of or spilled from offshore oil and gas installations.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThe United Kingdom Government operate a notification scheme for the use of chemicals offshore. The object of the scheme is to prevent damage to the marine environment. Chemical manufacturers and suppliers provide data on all chemicals used offshore to the Department of Energy. Based on these data maximum permitted levels that can be discharged at any one installation in a year are given for each chemical.
Discussions are under way within the Paris commission for a mandatory scheme for the use and discharge of chemicals offshore as agreed at the recent North sea conference.