asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the expenditure by Her Majesty's Government on the provision of goods and services to combat oil pollution, or the threat of oil pollution, at sea in each of the financial years since 1968–69.

Whilst the task of preparing for and dealing with oil spills at sea involves several Departments, my own has the major operational role. The amounts incurred, excluding overheads, by the Department of Trade in each financial year since it assumed responsibility for oil clean-up action at sea, expressed in round figures, are set out hereunder. The principal matters covered are the purchase and maintenance of equipment, transport and dispersant; storage accommodation; tug conversion; training and exercises; minor unattributable spills. Expenditure incurred in major incidents, which in general is recovered from the shipowner, is not included; nor is the cost of continuing research into clean-up methods.