§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has carried out an environmental impact study of the sinking of the M V Braer.
§ Sir Hector MonroA range of specialist studies on the environmental effects is already underway. I understand that the Shetland Islands council is undertaking a substantial impact assessment. My right hon. Friend announced on 26 January the setting up of an ecological steering group under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Ritchie. One of its tasks will be to oversee these studies.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many veterinary checks have been carried out on Shetland livestock following the MV Brear oil spillage.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: A number of sheep which have been on contaminated grazing have been acquired for slaughter and laboratory examination for hydrocarbon residues in the flesh.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the number of livestock affected and the number destroyed as a result of oil contamination in Shetland.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: My Department has estimated that some 2,000 sheep were on grazings contaminated by oil from the MV Braer; the majority have been moved to cleaner grazing or out of the affected area altogether; the remainder are being fed hay or other fodder; and none have had to be destroyed.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has commissioned on the aftermath of the Shetland oil spill.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: Work has begun on the systematic monitoring of fish, shellfish, seawater, soils, herbage, crops and livestock. Shetland Health Board and the Environmental health (Scotland) unit have in hand a detailed health survey, which includes the offer of a general clinical examination to some 600 people living near the wreck, with funding from the Scottish Office. Among the other bodies already active in this field are the Scottish agricultural colleges, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Royal Botanic Gardens (Edinburgh), the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology and Shetland Islands council. All these strands will he drawn together by the ecological steeing group which my right hon. Friend announced on 11 January.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what long-term studies of the ecotoxicology of oil are planned by his Department in relation to birds, fish, invertebrates, marine mammals and others.
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§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend announced on 11 January that he intends to set up an ecological steering group to oversee studies of the ecological effects of the oil pollution caused by the wreck of MV Braer on the coast of Shetland. The chairman and terms of reference of the group will be announced shortly. It will certainly be taking an expert view on what long-term studies should be undertaken.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the sites of special scientific interest affected by the Shetland oil spill and the species found in them.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: The information is set out in the table. Many common species are found in these sites in addition to those which led to their notification. St. Ninian's is a site notified for its physiographical interest.
Site affected and species for which the site has been notified Lochs of Spiggie and Brow
- Ncomysis integer (crustacean)
- Potamopyrgus jenkinski (gastropod)
- Diaptomus wierzejskii (zooplankton)
- Chara aspera (macrophyte)
- Potamogeton iliformis (macrophyte)
- Nitella opaca (stoncwart)
- Fontinalis antipyretica (moss)
- Whooper swans
- Goldeneye
- Pochard
- Tufted Duck
Pool of Virkie
- Arenicola marina (lug-worm)
- Seabirds and seaduck
- Waders
Sumburgh Head
- Kittiwake
- Guillemot
- Puffin
- Shag
- Arctic Tern
Quendale
- Marram
- Moonwart
- Curved Sedge
- Felwort
- Potamogeton friesii (pondweed)
- Water Crowfoot
- Waterfowl
St. Ninian's Tombolo
- Physiographical features only
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the risk of pollutants from the MV Braer oil spillage being passed via livestock to human beings through the food chain.
Sir Hector Munro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: The livestock in the affected area are cattle and sheep. The cattle are housed indoors at this time of year and it is unlikely that any contamination will reach them. However, the milk and the water supplies to the dairy farms are being regularly sampled and analysed and to date these results show that there has been no contamination. Very few, if any, of the sheep in the area would normally be going for slaughter at this time of year, and farmers have been advised not to send sheep for slaughter at present. In any case, post mortem inspection at the abattoir would reveal any pronounced taint in the meat and would be grounds for condemnation. In order to ascertain whether significant hydrocarbon residues remain 837W in the tissues of sheep exposed to this contamination a sample number of animals have been obtained for slaughter and laboratory examination.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his best estimate of how long it will be before pasture vacated following oil contamination may safely be used for grazing.
Sir Hector Munro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: It is not yet possible to provide such an estimate. Much will depend on the extent of the contamination and the information arising from the programme of testing of sheep, herbage and soil samples now in progress. Monitoring and testing will continue as long as is necessary. The Scottish Office agriculture and fisheries department will provide advice with regard to safety in the light of the scientific evidence.
§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken to date, and what action he intends to take, to set up ecological studies into the short and long-term effects of the oil spill from the MV Braer oil tanker.
Sir Hector Munro[holding answer 15 January 1993]: My right hon. Friend announced in his statement to the House on 11 January that an ecological steering group was being established. He announced the terms of reference of that group, under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Ritchie, on 26 January. The group's immediate task will be to develop urgently the best strategies, both in the short and longer terms, for dealing with the implications of the incident for the natural environment of Shetland. The group will oversee special studies of the ecological effects of the incident and will advise on more general lessons which may he drawn for the future.
§ Mr. HeppellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what precautionary measures are being taken by his Department to ensure that foodstuffs are not being sold to the public which have been contaminated by the oil spill in the Shetland Islands.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe primary responsibility for the safety of foodstuffs on Shetland rests with Shetland Islands Council, as food authority. My Department has maintained contact with the Islands Council continuously since the grounding of the M V Braer, and I am satisfied that the council has taken all necessary steps within its power, for example by ensuring that contaminated vegetable crops do not reach the market and that milk supplies are monitored. In addition the Government has made an order under Part I of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 defining an area within which fishing and harvesting of farmed fish are prohibited. This designated area is constantly being kept under review on the basis of test results from water and fish sampling.
My Department has advised farmers not to send sheep for slaughter meantime, and has purchashed a sample number of sheep for slaughter and laboratory examination to assess whether any significant hydrocarbon residues remain in their tissue.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to protect wildlife sites in the Minches against possible oil contamination.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: Coastal local authorities have agreed emergency contingency plans with the marine pollution control unit at the 838W Department of Transport to deal with contamination by sea borne oil. In addition Scottish Natural Heritage stands ready to provide advice and practical assistance in any case where wildlife and wildlife habitats are affected by oil pollution. Similar help would also be available to those voluntary bodies who assist with the recovery and rehabilitation of wildlife in such circumstances. The Ecological Steering Group which is being established by my right hon. Friend following the grounding of the MV Braer will study the effects on wildlife habitats in the Shetland Islands of that incident and advise on the lessons to be learned which could be applied should a similar incident take place in future in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans have been drawn up for compensation payments in the event of delay in the slaughter of fatstock due to contamination by toxic residues arising from the MV Braer oil spillage.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 27 January 1993]: The Government have made available assistance to producers who are suffering economic hardship through a bridging fund, which will be operated for the Government by Shetland Islands council. Details of the Fund's operation were announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in answer to a question from the hon. Member from Aberdeen, South (Mr. Robertson) on 21 January.