§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the duration, frequency and geographical coverage, of monitoring activity undertaken by or on behalf of his Department in Shetland or coastal waters around Shetland, following on from the grounding of the MV Braer on 5 January; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 1 February 1993]: Extensive monitoring and sampling is being carried out covering sea and fresh water, sediments, fish, air, livestock and wildlife. Wherever appropriate, studies include control samples elsewhere in Shetland as well as from areas potentially affected by the oil spill. The information already available is copious: for example, on 28 January the marine laboratory in Aberdeen made available to local interests an 11-page bulletin reporting on seawater, sediments and fish monitoring, of which I have sent a copy to the hon. Member. Longer-term monitoring will be co-ordinated by the ecological steering group, which is to be chaired by Professor William Ritchie.