§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department takes, in the case of sightings of unidentified tankers being reported in the Minch, to determine the identity of the vessels concerned;
(2) in what ways his Department has pursued reports of sightings of tankers in the Minch as promised in the Government response to the 40th report of the Public Accounts Committee, Session 1990–91 in December 1991;
(3) how many sightings of tankers in the Minch have been reported to his Department since their request for such reports in the Government response to the 40th report of the Public Accounts Committee in December 1991;
(4) what was the precise wording of the request for reports of sightings of tankers in the Minch referred to in the Government response to the 40th report of the Public Accounts Committee, Session 1990–91, December 1991; and to whom this request was made.
§ Mr. NorrisIn the summer of 1991 the Highland regional council held a symposium on tankers in the Minch attended by representatives of many interested organisations. At the symposium, my Department issued a general invitation to report sightings of vessels which might be large laden tankers to my Department. This invitation was followed up in detailed paper by my Department for the Council, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. On a number of other occasions we have asked that local people should report any sightings of tankers in the Minch to the Department. In a new initiative, supported by my Department, the Highlands regional council is shortly to issue a leaflet outlining the voluntary reporting scheme.
The Department has received no reports of laden tankers over 10,000 tons grt using the Minch from any source. Any such laden tanker identified would be investigated by the Department to discover the reasons for its presence in the Minch. There is no means of investigating unidentified tankers.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to consider a requirement on all tankers and bulk carriers passing through British waters to carry equipment to allow them to be tracked by satellite in the same manner as for passenger aircraft.
§ Mr. NorrisExtension of existing surveillance arrangements for ships fall within the terms of reference of Lord Donaldson's inquiry announced by my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department currently takes to monitor the movement of laden oil tankers around the British Isles.
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§ Mr. NorrisA reporting system for loaded oil and chemical tankers of over 1600 grt is in place in the channel and Dover strait (MAREP). This provides detailed information about such ships to surveillance centres. In addition the channel navigation information service monitors by radar all traffic in the Dover strait and its approaches.