§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate the Government have made as to how quickly a spill from the nearest tranche offered for oil production could reach the islands of St. Kilda. [59021]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe nearest point to St. Kilda currently under licence is 45 miles South South West (SSW) of the Islands. Exploration is still at an early stage and it is not yet known whether hydrocarbons are present in any quantity or what their characteristic would be. Before any such structure could be drilled, better predictions would need to be available and any such well would be subject to the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response Convention) Regulations 1998. These require the prior provision of an oil spill contingency plan specific to the well site and the rig to be used which must be approved by the Department of Trade and Industry.
In the worst case scenario, it is estimated that should a release of oil occur 45 miles to the SSW of St. Kilda the oil would impact on the Islands after a period of between 36 to 48 hours if it had not already been dispersed in the prevailing wind and seas.