§ Dr. HampsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statment on environmental impact studies by the Natural Environment Research Council related to the Gulf oil spill.
§ Mr. HeseltineTwo studies have been carried out by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to assist international efforts which are under way to minimise the environmental damage caused by the deliberate release of oil into the Gulf by Iraq. The first study, an assessment of the biological effects of the oil spill on the ecosystem of the Gulf, including its marine wildlife, has been sent to the relevant Government Agencies in Saudi Arabia and in the other Gulf states. The report includes a brief assessment of response options and makes recommendations.
The second study carried out by NERC is concerned with modelling the movement, dispersion, evaporation and solution of the oil released, using tidal and weather data.
I am today placing copies of both the report and a description of the modelling work completed by the NERC in the Library and I am also arranging for this to be presented to the appropriate authorities in Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states.