§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his marine pollution control unit has taken to monitor(a) the DESMI Engineering contract for heavy duty skimmers, (b) the Alba International contract in relation to the clean-up of Musallamiyah bay and (c) the Alba International contract for the clean-up of the coastline of Karan island.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 3 June 1991]: In respect of the Department of the Environment contract with DESMI Engineering, the marine pollution control unit acting on behalf of DOE, checked that the heavy duty oil skimmers were in full working order prior to their despatch to Bahrain.
As advised in my reply of 15 April at column 1, both of the contracts with Alba International were between that company and the International Maritime Organisation, which advises that the work has been completed satisfactorily. The MPCU had no monitoring role.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds the United Kingdom gives to the International Maritime Organisation Gulf fund.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 3 June 1991]: The Departments of Transport and of the Environment have 140W United Kingdom shipowners for comparable standards of manning and safety under flags of convenience and flags of Commonwealth states; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 3 June 1991]: The Department of Transport has, from time to time, commissioned information on crew cost comparisons, from ship managers and consultants, in order to help inform policy. Such information has not generally been published. The hon. Member may, however, be aware that the report of the joint working party on British shipping, published last year, included the attached table of case-specific figures, supplied by the General Council of British Shipping.
each made a single £500,000 contribution to the International Maritime Organisation's Gulf oil pollution disaster fund.