§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will make an assessment of the potential environmental after-effects of the Sea Empress oil spillage on the north Devon coastline and Lundy island and of the steps that need to be taken to manage and mitigate these effects. [17718]
§ Mr. BaldryOur initial survey work suggests that there is no cause for concern of the effects of the Sea Empress oil spillage on the fisheries and wider marine environment along the north Devon coastline and Lundy island. We shall continue to monitor the environmental effects of oil spillage for as long as is necessary to be sure that this continues to be the case.