HL Deb 29 October 2003 vol 654 cc50-1WA
Lord Mackenzie of Culkein

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of the estimated 3,300 tonnes of the zinc sulphide cargo carried by the "Jambo", which sank at the entrance to Loch Broom earlier this year, has been removed by salvors; and whether all of the cargo will be removed. [HL5080]

Lord Davies of Oldham

More than half the cargo, an estimated 1,900 tonnes of zinc sulphide, has been recovered.

The advice from the Scottish Environment Group is that the cargo poses a low or negligible environmental risk. A monitoring programme has been put in place to study the local environmental impact, if any, that is caused by the residual cargo remaining on the seabed over the coming months. We will consider any revised advice from the Scottish Environment Group if there is any change in the circumstances.