To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are undertaking to protect the Atlantic Frontier region from the effects of increased oil tanker traffic following Lord Donaldson's recommendations of 1993. [8987]

The Government is committed to protecting all of the UK coastline and all UK waters from the harmful effects of shipping. We have introduced several measures which go beyond the recommendations of Lord Donaldson's Inquiry. We are pressing for the designation of all waters around the UK as a special area for discharges of oil from ships. This will prohibit all discharges from oil tankers. We will shortly increase the maximum fine which magistrates may impose for illegal discharges of oil five-fold to £250,000. Several internationally agreed routeing and reporting measures have been introduced to enhance the safety of navigation around the UK coast. The effectiveness and scope of these measures are kept under review.