ref date:12 May 1998 (ENV)
Oil rigs to pollute North Sea off Scotland
About 130 out-of-service oil platforms could be dumped at sea if London gets
its way during talks with countries bordering the North Sea.
Only 6 months after Michael Meacher, the environment minister, stated at the
"NEW" Labour party conference that they would not allow another "Brent
Spar" (A major North sea pollution fiasco promulgated by the Tories), Labour negotiators are pressing for an exemption for the bigger platforms to allow them to be
disposed of at sea.
This will save the oil companies a fortune. So much for Labours green credentials
The possible massive pollution from such an act would pollute Scotland and Englands beaches, making them even more unsanitary than they are already.
The Scottish parliament wouldn't allow this, so New Labour are trying to force
the issue NOW, before the Scots get a chance to block it.
The SNP could talk to the multinationals now and promise tax breaks to the
oil companies IF they wait until they SNP control the Scottish parliament.
Then a sound environmental deal could be reached.
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