Merchant Shipping (Pollution) Bill [Lords]

I think it unlikely that we would have an accident in estuarial waters that required the use of the supplementary fund because of the scale of accident required to trigger the use of the fund, but liability arrangements are in place to compensate people who are affected by pollution in those areas. I reiterate that the Government are determined that the UK should have the best possible financial and environmental arrangements available to protect our coastal interests from the effects of oil pollution from tankers and from air pollution from ships. Recent oil pollution incidents in France and Spain have demonstrated that costs of major spills can far exceed the compensation that is currently available. The additional sums available through the supplementary fund should ensure that, in virtually all circumstances, compensation can be paid promptly and in full. We wish to have that protection in place as soon as possible.