§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had since 15 February alleging orimulsion to be toxic and advocating a ban on its importation into the United Kingdom; and what studies his Department has undertaken of the arguments adduced in those Organisations for Economic Co-operation and Development countries which have (i) considered and (ii) implemented such a ban. [19648]
§ Mr. Ian TaylorSince 15 February my Department has received no such representations; nor has my Department undertaken any studies of OECD countries' decisions concerning orimulsion. However, in 1992 a research study was carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment which reviewed the impacts of orimulsion and the pollution abatement technologies which may be applied to orimulsion-fired boilers.
I understand that Milford Haven port authority has produced a report about the likely effects of spillages of up to one thousand tonnes of orimulsion into the Haven. This report is on the planning public register.