§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he will be putting forward in June at the North sea ministerial conference of the problems caused for wildlife by hydrocarbons in drilling wastes discharging from rigs. [37298]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe next North sea conference will not be until a date in the period 2000–2002. The fourth North sea conference on June 9 1995 asked the Oslo and Paris commissions to introduce by 1997 a ban410W on the discharge of oil-contaminated cuttings except in exceptional circumstances and to investigate the need for, the environmental impact from and possible means of cleaning up seabeds contaminated by oily cuttings.