§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that adequate compensation is paid to all those who can prove loss of property or financial loss as a result of oil spills at sea; [21234]
(2) what measures he has taken to ensure that companies which are affected indirectly from oil spills at sea are adequately compensated. [21235]
§ Mr. NorrisThe 1969 international convention on civil liability for oil pollution damage and the 1971 international convention on the establishment of an international fund for compensation for oil pollution damage, implemented in the United Kingdom by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, provide for compensation for pollution damage caused by spills from vessels carrying oil in bulk. The criteria for admissibility of these claims is described in the claims manual produced by the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. Copies of the claims manual have been placed in the Library of the House.