HC Deb 14 December 1998 vol 322 cc317-8W
Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the relative risk of oil spillage from a production and distribution system using(a) floating production storage and offloading facilities and tankers to transport oil and (b) fixed production platforms and pipelines. [63087]

Mr. Battle

I have been asked to reply.

The Licensing conditions and the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations which were implemented earlier this year require a risk-based assessment to be made of each offshore production facility prior to production taking place.

Mr. Dafis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what ways the emergency infrastructure is being modified to deal with a potential pollution incident in the Atlantic Frontier Region following the granting of licences for oil production there. [63053]

Mr. Battle

I have been asked to reply.

The Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations implemented in May this year require a risk-based assessment of any potential pollution incident before the operation can be carried out, regardless of where the operation is taking place.