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Treasury

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the impact on the UK's gross contributions to the EU Budget of a successful application by Spain to the Solidarity Fund following the Prestige disaster; what assessment he has made of Spain's application to the Solidarity Fund...

Asked by

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative)

Answering body

Treasury

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 April 2003

Reference

403 c145W; 107514;107515

House

House of Commons

EU documents 15301/02, Commission Communication on improving safety at sea, and 5111/03, draft Regulation on the accelerated phasing in of double hull or equivalent design requirements for single hull oil tankers

Department

European Standing Committee A

Type

European Committee proceedings

Date

12 February 2003

Reference

European SCA

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Statement on what the outcome was of the Environment Council on 10th December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Jim Hood (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

10 December 2002

For answer on

4 February 2003

Answered on

4 February 2003

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Environment Council on 10 December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [87183] Margaret Beckett: I represented the UK at Environment Council on 9 December, accompanied by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State (Environment). This was the final Environment Council of the Danish Presidency. The Council reached agreement on four proposals and also considered a number of other important issues. Political approval was given to a Regulation implementing the Rotterdam Convention on establishing a system of Prior Informed Consent for trade in hazardous substances, and also to a Decision to ratify the Convention. The Council reached unanimous political agreement on the greenhouse gas Emissions Trading Directive. In negotiation the UK had secured a number of changes to meet our key requirements and I strongly supported this proposal, which gives further effect to the EU's strong commitment to action on climate change. The agreement includes an opt-out for the first phase in 2005-07, which will assist the transition from established national emissions trading schemes such as we have in the UK into the EU scheme. Political agreement was reached, by a qualified majority, on a Regulation on traceability and labelling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The package included elements already agreed in Agriculture and Fisheries Council (such as the inclusion of products derived from GMOs but including no detectable GM material and a 0.9 per cent. labelling threshold) for the parallel Regulation on food and feed, which I had voted against. Debate at Environment Council principally concerned the identification requirements for bulk shipments of GMOs in agricultural commodities. I argued that the requirement should be aligned to the language in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which creates an obligation to identify the GMOs a shipment "may contain". Most other member states were able to accept a wording requiring the identification of GMOs that "have been used" in shipments, which I regarded as unduly restrictive and impractical, and an insufficient reflection of the requirements of the Cartagena Protocol. My view was that the final package did not provide a sound basis for consumer choice, and was unworkable. I therefore voted against, as did the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg, on different grounds. Council Conclusions were adopted on the Community's Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Conclusions recognised the importance of reducing the environmental impacts of pesticides and emphasised the principle of subsidiarity, calling for Community action to complement action at member state level. The Council adopted Conclusions in advance of the UNEP Governing Council in February 2003. These highlighted the need for a strategic approach to international chemicals management. Member states and other interested parties have been waiting for some time for firm proposals from the Commission for a legislative package on Chemicals. The Danish Presidency called a debate at Council around what it regarded as four key areas of the future chemicals strategy--scope, sanctions, dealing with chemicals in products and handling small and medium sized enterprises and downstream users. There was a useful discussion and the Commission confirmed that it planned, as urged by the member states, to bring forward proposals as quickly as possible. The residency adopted Conclusions summarising the debate. The Council also took note of progress reports on a proposal for a Regulation concerning monitoring of forests ("Forest Focus"), and on the draft Environmental Liability Directive. There were several difficult outstanding issues on the latter, which would be taken forward under the Greek Presidency. The Council noted a Commission Communication entitled "Towards a strategy to protect and conserve the marine environment", advocating an ecosystem approach to managing the marine environment. The Danish Presidency gave a report of a marine environment conference held in Denmark in early December. The Council also noted a presentation by the Commission on its proposal to amend the Bathing Water Directive, and a written presentation by the Commission of the recently adopted nuclear package, covering safety of facilities and management of radioactive waste. Spain made a statement on the situation of the sunken oil tanker "Prestige" and its environmental impact on the Galician coast. Portugal and France expressed their own concerns. The Council adopted Conclusions complementing those adopted by Transport Council on 6 December. These Conclusions underlined the significant environmental impact of the incident and encouraged further work in the IMO to tackle these issues. It reiterated the need to ban single hull tankers for the transport of heavy grade oils, called for a review of safety conditions and condemned the practice of cleaning out tanks while at sea. The Danish Presidency reported on the outcome of the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, attributing much of the success of the conference to the personal contribution made by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Fisheries, Water and Nature Protection. Portugal made a statement on its difficulties in implementing Natura 2000 when most its sites were in private ownership. The Commission assured Portugal that it was bringing forward a Communication on Natura 2000. Finally, the Council noted a Belgian statement underlining the importance of setting thresholds for the maximum tolerated levels of genetic contamination of seed.

Date

4 February 2003

Reference

87183; 399 c150-2W

House

House of Commons

Deposited Paper Dep 03/419

Letter dated 20.11.2002 from Loyola de Palacio, Vice President of the European Commission, to Denis MacShane MP regarding the tanker Prestige. FCO. 2002.

Deposited by

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Type

Deposited papers

Date

30 January 2003

Reference

Dep 03/419

House

House of Commons; House of Lords

Symons of Vernham Dean, Baroness

What reply they received to the letter dated 16 November 2002 by the Minister of Europe to Commissioner de Palacio; and whether they will place a copy in the Library of the House. [HL 1089]. - Inc fact that a copy of the Commissioner de Palacio's letter will be placed...

Asked by

Lord Hoyle (Labour)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

29 January 2003

Reference

643 c156WA; HL 1089

House

House of Lords

Deposited Paper Dep 03/182

Record of the movements of MV Prestige over the period 24 December 1997 to 13 November 2002. 4 p. DfT. 2002.

Deposited by

Department for Transport

Type

Deposited papers

Date

16 January 2003

Reference

Dep 03/182

House

House of Commons

Symons of Vernham Dean, Baroness

What representations they have made to the European Union Commissioner for Transport, Loyola de Palacio, about her remarks in relation to MV "Prestige" and Gibraltar. [HL 922]. - Inc ref to 10 December 2002, 642 c212-5 and fact that the UK's Permanent Representative to the EU wrote to the Commission...

Asked by

Lord Hoyle (Labour)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

14 January 2003

Reference

HL 922; 643 c25WA

House

House of Lords

Symons of Vernham Dean, Baroness

Whether they will make a statement internationally making it clear that MV 'Prestige' was not bound for Gibraltar and had no connection with Gibraltar. [HL 921]. - Inc ref to 27 November 2002, 641 c45WA.

Asked by

Lord Hoyle (Labour)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

13 January 2003

Reference

HL 921; 643 c18WA

House

House of Lords

Macdonald of Tradeston, Lord

How often MV "Prestige" called at Spanish ports in the last five years; at which ports it called; and when such visits were made. [HL 923].

Asked by

Lord Hoyle (Labour)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 January 2003

Reference

HL 923; 642 c222WA

House

House of Lords

European Scrutiny Committee. Sixth report, together with minutes of proceedings. Commission communication on improving safety at sea in response to the Prestige accident (15301/2002). Recommended for further consideration.

Type

Select Committee reports; House of Commons papers; Parliamentary committees

Committee

European Scrutiny Committee

Notes

Received 15.01.03

Date

8 January 2003

Reference

HC 63-vi 2002/03

House

House of Commons

Macdonald of Tradeston, Lord

Lords statement on what was the outcome of the EU Transport Council on 5-6 December. [HL 809].

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

19 December 2002

Reference

HL 809; 642 c144-6WA

House

House of Lords

Dept for Transport

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the Prestige oil tanker has docked in the UK in the last 10 years; what safety measures are in place governing entry into UK docks for oil tankers; what measures he is taking to improve safety measures on oil...

Asked by

Lindsay Hoyle (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Transport

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

20 November 2002

For answer on

11 December 2002

Answered on

11 December 2002

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Prestige oil tanker has docked in the UK in the last 10 years; what safety measures are in place governing entry into UK docks for oil tankers; what measures he is taking to improve safety measures on oil tankers; what plans he has to work with European partners to bring forward the date for outlawing single-hulled oil tankers; and if he will make a statement on the reduction in size of the largest oil tankers in order to improve safety. [83151] Mr. Jamieson: [holding answer 28 November 2002]: The records which would enable the movements of this vessel to be plotted over the last 10 years are not readily available. However, records of ship movements for the last five years have been placed in the House Libraries. These record sightings of the PRESTIGE and details of its entries into port. They indicate that the PRESTIGE has called three times at UK ports (Tees in October 1998 and at Tees Bay and Tees in May 1999). The database of inspections under the port state control system does not record ship movements but does indicate that the vessel was inspected in Hull in July 1995 and has not been inspected in a UK port since then. The movement and manoeuvring of vessels in harbours is the responsibility of the harbour authorities. Since July 2002 the International Safety Management Code has applied to most vessels trading internationally. It is the international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention. The UK was instrumental in securing international agreement to accelerate the phasing out of single hull tankers of 20,000 tons deadweight or more. Those having no additional protection must be phased out in order of age no later than the dates in the following timetable: 2003 for ships delivered in 1973 or earlier, 2004 for ships delivered in 1974 and 1975, 2005 for ships delivered in 1976 and 1977, 2006 for ships delivered in 1978, 1979 and 1980, 2007 for ships delivered in 1981 or later. Single hull tankers of 20,000 tons deadweight or more having a degree of additional protection, and all those between 5,000 to 20,000 tones deadweight, must be phased out in order of age no later than the following dates: 2003 for ships delivered in 1973 or earlier, 2004 for ships delivered in 1974 and 1975, 2005 for ships delivered in 1976 and 1977, 2006 for ships delivered in 1978 and 1979, 2007 for ships delivered in 1980 and 1981, 2008 for ships delivered in 1982, 2009 for ships delivered in 1983, 2010 for ships delivered in 1984, 2011 for ships delivered in 1985, 2012 for ships delivered in 1986, 2013 for ships delivered in 1987, 2014 for ships delivered in 1988, 2015 for ships delivered in 1989 or later. Shipbuilding and shipowning are long-term commitments. Investment in the newer double hull tankers depends on the stability offered by this timetable.There is no evidence that reducing the size of oil tankers will improve safety. However, at the recent Transport Council, we agreed to invite a proposal from the Commission to accelerate the timetable for phasing out single hull tankers even further, and to consider how the carriage of heavy oil in single hull tankers might be restricted, with a view to reducing the risk of a spill from a single hull tanker even more.

Date

11 December 2002

Reference

83151; 396 c355-6W;396 c354-5W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Transport

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what help the UK Government has made available to (a) the Spanish and (b) the Portuguese authorities to help tackle the environmental repercussions of the Prestige oil disaster.

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Transport

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

27 November 2002

For answer on

3 December 2002

Answered on

3 December 2002

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what help the UK Government have made available to (a) the Spanish and (b) the Portuguese authorities to help tackle the environmental repercussions of the Prestige oil disaster. [84740] Mr. Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) received a request on 13 November from the Spanish embassy via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for offers of assistance for an at-sea clean-up operation, following an oil spill from M/V Prestige. An offer of immediate salvage and counter pollution advice and equipment was passed to the Spanish embassy. This request was repeated on 14 November by the European Commission's Civil Protection and Environmental Accidents Unit, which was assessing availability of equipment for collective help to Spain. On 14 November the MCA offered Spain a range of equipment and expertise, outlining the elements of the UK's own oil spill response capability that could be utilised in this incident. This offer was enhanced on the 19th with information about an oil spill recovery vessel--the Sefton Supporter owned by Gulf Offshore that operates in the Irish Sea. On 21 November the MCA received a further request from the European Commission's Civil Protection Co- operation Mechanism, on behalf of Spain and Portugal, for information on the availability, costs/hire charges and mobilisation time of specialised equipment for the recovery of heavy oil. On 24 November MCA's offer of assistance was accepted and, after discussion with the Spanish Authorities, three Artic lorries with specialist equipment and one flat bed lorry equipped with a 10ft crane was sent by ferry, due to arrive in La Coruna 28 November. The MCA are also sending five trained personnel to operate and help deploy this equipment. Additionally an aerial surveillance capability was requested by Spain on 27 November and this is being deployed by 3 December. The Spanish Authorities also contacted Gulf Offshore directly requesting the services of the Sefton Supporter, which arrived in La Coruna on 27 November.Defra's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science has also contacted the scientists working on impact assessment and offered any technical assistance they may find helpful.

Date

3 December 2002

Reference

84740; 395 c669-70W

House

House of Commons

Symons of Vernham Dean, Baroness

Whether the "Prestige" oil tanker, in distress off the Galicia coast of Spain, was sailing to Gibraltar; and what advice has been given to the Government of Spain. [HL 120].

Asked by

Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

27 November 2002

Reference

HL 120; 641 c45WA

House

House of Lords

McIntosh of Haringey, Lord

Answered by

Lord McIntosh of Haringey (Labour)

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

27 November 2002

Reference

641 c749-50

House

House of Lords

McIntosh of Haringey, Lord

1st supplementary on agreeing standards such as restricting access to European or British waters merely to vessels that have double hulls.

Asked by

Lord Dubs (Labour)

Oral questions - 1st Supplementary

Status

Answered

Date

27 November 2002

Reference

641 c749-50

House

House of Lords

McIntosh of Haringey, Lord

Answered by

Lord McIntosh of Haringey (Labour)

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

27 November 2002

Reference

641 c749-50

House

House of Lords

McIntosh of Haringey, Lord

What action they propose to take to safeguard the marine environment in the light of the recent sinking of the oil tanker "Prestige" off the coast of Spain. - Inc ref to the National Audit Office's report Dealing with Pollution from Ships.

Asked by

Lord Dubs (Labour)

Oral questions - Lead

Status

Answered

Date

27 November 2002

Reference

641 c749-50

House

House of Lords

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what early assessment she has made of the long-term environmental impact of the sinking of the Prestige off the Spanish Atlantic coast.

Asked by

Gordon Prentice (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

26 November 2002

Reference

83003; 395 c239W

House

House of Commons

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he has taken and will take at intergovernmental and European levels on accusations made by the Spanish Government and by the European Commissioner for Transport that the accident off Galicia involving the oil tanker Prestige was linked...

Asked by

Lord Risby (Conservative)

Answering body

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

25 November 2002

Reference

83133; 395 c83W

House

House of Commons

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher