asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the present methods of, and arrangements for, dealing with oil slicks off the British coast; and if he will give the approximate annual cost to Government agencies and to local authorities, respectively.

We have recently carried out a comprehensive re-examination of our contingency arrangements for dealing with oil pollution. I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade gave my hon. Friend the Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 2nd August, announcing our conclusions. The cost of dealing with actual oil spills varies widely from year to year and, in those cases where the polluter is identified, is recoverable from the shipowner or his insurer.