Rennie calls on Ministers to block ship-to-ship oil transfer decision

3.44.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Jul 2006

Local Liberal Democrat MP, Willie Rennie, today launched a motion calling on Government Ministers to block controversial ship-to-ship oil transfer plans for the Firth of Forth.

Mr Rennie launched the motion following the announcement by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that they would be approving the contingency plan put forward by Forth Ports plc to deal with any oil spill. Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander, is widely expected to support the decision.

Willie Rennie said:

"The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have trampled over local opinion. There was universal opposition to these proposals, which threaten our local environment. I want the Government to step in and bring them to their senses."

"The proposed operations would take place on an extremely large scale in unpredictable waters and would risk doing serious damage to environmentally-significant waters and coastlines."

"Local people will expect the Transport Secretary to block these potentially dangerous, extremely unpopular proposals."

Willie Rennie co-sponsored the motion, which has been tabled today.