§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice his Department gave to the Department of Trade and Industry concerning the use of pseudo oil-based drill muds by oil companies. [29937]
§ Mr. JackThe Ministry has advised the Department of Trade and Industry that the use of drilling muds of all sorts can be permitted only if the hazards and risks to the marine environment have been properly assessed on a case-by-case basis.
§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the studies into the environmental effects of the use of pseudo oil-based drill muds which(a) have been carried out by his Department and (b) his Department has evaluated. [29936]
§ Mr. JackThe Ministry has a continuing programme of laboratory tests and field surveys into the environmental effects of pseudo oil-based muds—POBMs—for use by the offshore industries. MAFF also evaluates laboratory test data on toxicity to marine life, potential for biodegradation and potential of bioaccumulation of POBM systems as part of the approval process for POBMs developed by the Paris Commission and operated on a non-statutory basis by the Department of Trade and Industry.