To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) harbours and (b) oil handling facilities are subject to the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations 1998; and what proportion are located within statutory harbour authority areas. (87811)

There are 167 Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations 1998 Oil Spill Contingency Plans approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

159 of the 167 plans are harbour authority plans.

Eight of the 167 plans are stand alone oil handling facility plans within a harbour authority.

The majority of the 167 harbour authority plans incorporate oil handling facilities plans within their area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how proposals to regulate Ship-to-Ship Transfers of oil and other cargoes in UK territorial waters will be implemented in harbour authority areas. (87813)

My officials are working on draft legislation which would control bunker transfers and Ship to Ship Transfers (STS) of oil or other hazardous and noxious substances carried as cargo in the UK's territorial sea and internal waters. It is not intended to apply the regulations to cover operations in statutory harbour areas.