Written question asked by Gordon Prentice (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 March 1997. It was answered by John Bowis (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 March 1997 on behalf of the Coastguard Agency.

Dept of Transport;Coastguard Agency

Question: How many illegal discharges from ships were reported in each year since 1990, indicating in each case the location; how many resulted in a successful prosecution; and what was the fine imposed. - Text of letter from Chris Harris of the Coastguard Agency. Inc ref to ACOPS reports available in the Library up to an including 1995.

Answer: Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many illegal discharges from ships were reported in each year since 1990, indicating in each case the location; how many resulted in a successful prosecution; and what was the fine imposed. [18559] Mr. Bowis: I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard Agency to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Chris Harris to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 5 March 1997: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Question about illegal discharges from ships which have been reported since 1990. Details of illegal discharges are published by the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) in their annual survey of oil pollution around the coasts of the United Kingdom. The information includes an overall summary of prosecutions together with the level of fines imposed. Copies of ACOPS reports are available in the House of Commons library up to and including 1995. The report for 1996 is still being compiled.

Secondary information