§ 25. Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what duties the new Environment Agency will have in relation to marine oil pollution. [20962]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe new Environment Agency will continue to exercise the same controls over oil pollution of the sea from land-based sources as are currently exercised by the existing regulatory bodies. Operational matters on board ships at sea relating to pollution will continue to be overseen by the Marine Safety Agency. The marine pollution control unit—MPCU—remains the competent national authority for dealing with marine pollution from ships. In a major spill, MPCU is responsible both for directing at-sea operations and co-ordinating the shoreline response.