§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has in place to protect coasts from oil slicks. [107317]
§ Mr. HillMy Department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will shortly be publishing a revised National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations. The plan provides a framework for the UK's response to marine pollution from ships and offshore installations. The MCA implements the plan when marine pollution incidents involving ships and offshore installations occur in UK waters. The plan remains under constant review in the light of the experience gained from incidents and exercises.
The MCA also inspects at least one quarter of ships calling at UK ports to ensure that they comply with international safety rules and standards and operates surveillance aircraft to patrol UK waters.
In addition, my Department will shortly begin a consultative process that could lead to the setting up of Marine Environmental High Risk Areas (MEHRAs) to help protect sensitive marine and coastal environments at particular risk from pollution from shipping.