§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he will (i) put forward and (ii) support at the North sea ministerial conference in Denmark on 8 June in respect of shipping; and if he will make a statement. [24404]
§ Mr. NorrisA note on UK policy objectives for the fourth North sea conference was placed in the Library of the House on 16 May. My Department has been fully involved in the preparations for the fourth North sea conference, and has already made a number of proposals consistent with our policy on marine safety and pollution following Lord Donaldson's report, "Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas".
The Government will be represented at the North sea conference by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. He will be proposing and supporting a wide range of measures to enhance ship safety, to reduce accidental and operational discharges from ships, to improve the clean-up of spills and to secure better compensation for the victims of marine pollution damage, especially through the development and ratification of the convention on hazardous and noxious substances.