HC Deb 06 March 1991 vol 187 cc188-90W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he will be making at the EC Environment Council on 18 March in respect of an international operation to alleviate the environmental effects of the Gulf conflict.

Mr. Heseltine

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 February to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) at column531.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution Her Majesty's Government are making towards rescuing the natural environment in the Gulf region; what representations he will be making to allied coalition partners in respect of the clean-up operation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heseltine

[holding answer 5 March 1991]: The actions taken as part of our initial response to the oil spillages in the Gulf were set out in my letter of 6 February to hon. Members, a copy of which is in the Library. I will continue to assess urgently any specific requests we receive from the Gulf states. The International Maritime Organisation has continued to co-ordinate offers of assistance from member states, including coalition members, and I welcome their establishment of a trust fund to facilitate further clean-up action in the Gulf.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress he has to report on combating oil pollution in the Gulf.

Mr. Heseltine

I set out some of the initial steps we have taken in response to oil spills in the Gulf in my letter to hon. Members of 6 February, copies of which are in the Library. Since then we have continued to look closely at how we can respond further to requests from the Gulf states and the international organisations seeking to co-ordinate assistance. These include the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the specialised agency of the UN concerned with shipping and oil pollution issues, which has co-ordinated offers of assistance of expertise and equipment from Governments of member states.

Recently it has become clear that while deflection operations and protective booms have been successfully deployed, extensive damage has occurred and substantial quantities of oil remain at sea. On 1 March the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation called for establishment of a trust fund to facilitate provision of equipment and services to tackle oil pollution in the Gulf. Reports available to me indicate that there is now an urgent need to begin oil recovery operations if further damage to ecologically sensitive sites is to be minimised.

In order to assist the Governments of the Gulf states my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I are together contributing £1 million to the International Maritime Organisation Gulf oil pollution disaster fund. Each Department is contributing £0.5 million.

With other contributions which the International Maritime Organisation is seeking from its members and the resources of the Gulf states this should enable those on the spot to put into operation the plans now being developed by the responsible national agencies assisted by international experts, including those from the United Kingdom.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his Department's latest estimate of the area of water in the Gulf that is currently affected by oil slicks;

(2) what is his Department's latest estimate of the length of coastline around the Gulf that is currently affected by oil slicks.

Mr. Heseltine

The reports available to us indicate that oil has affected most of the Saudi Arabian coastline between Khafji and the island of Abu Ali. This includes 400 km of coastline, with the worst damage occurring in the heavily indented southern part of the coast. Around 50,000 tonnes of oil in this area are estimated to remain at sea. In addition areas of light oil or sheen have been observed up to 70 miles offshore and up to 50˚ 20' east and 29˚ 5' north. No detailed information is yet available on coastal or offshore pollution within the former war zone in the northern Gulf.