Oil Pollution (Sea Empress Incident) (Hansard, 27 March 1996)

§ Mr. Hague

In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, I have appointed Professor Ron Edwards to chair an independent steering group of 11 experts in the marine environment, to656W co-ordinate the environmental evaluation of the impact of the Sea Empress oil spill. This will include consideration of the response, clean-up procedures and the techniques employed following the oil spill. The group will also ensure that a comprehensive set of relevant environmental data is obtained; it will assess the overall impact of the incident on environmental resources of the area affected—including fisheries, agriculture, amenity and wildlife; as well as passing any information relevant to human health to public health authorities for assessment.

Professor Edwards, who chaired the national parks review panel from 1988 to 1991, is currently a member of the Environment Agency. The first meeting of the group will be held on 2 April at the Welsh Office in Cardiff. I have asked Professor Edwards to provide me with a report within 18 months, which will be made public. Interim reports, which will also be made public, will also be produced.

Apart from Professor Edwards, the 11 members of the steering group I have appointed are—Mr. David Bedborough, marine pollution control unit; Dr. Malcolm Smith, Countryside Council for Wales; Dr. John Portmann, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Dr. Charlie Pattinson, National Rivers Authority, Welsh Region; Mr. Nic Wheeler, Pembrokeshire Coast national park; Mr. David Seal, Pembrokeshire county council; Mr. Roy Bunce, Department of the Environment, European wildlife division; Dr. Allan Elliot, university of North Wales, Bangor, department of marine sciences; Mr. Arthur Hacking, ADAS, agricultural science advisers to the Welsh Office; Dr. Ian White, managing director, International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation; Dr. Havard Prosser, Welsh Office scientific adviser.