HC Deb 25 March 1993 vol 221 cc705-6W
Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to investigate marine spill contingency and response planning geographic information systems following the MV Braer disaster.

Mr. Norris

My Department's marine pollution control unit commissioned and part-funded preparation and printing of the Nature Conservancy Council's "Atlas of Nature Conservation Sites in Great Britain Sensitive to Coastal Oil Pollution" published in 1991 and is now considering incorporating this data on to a geographic information system.

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider introducing a levy on oil shipped through United Kingdom ports to fund measures to prevent future oil spillages.

Mr. Norris

Ships using United Kingdom ports already pay port charges and light dues. In addition oil carried into United Kingdom ports may face a levy set by the international oil pollution compensation fund to meet the compensation needed following oil pollution incidents such as the Braer. There are no proposals at present to impose a further levy on oil cargoes to finance measures to prevent future oil pollution incidents.

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