asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government is taking to reach an international agreement to prohibit the discharge of refuse oil on the high seas as well as in territorial waters, in view of the damage caused to shipping and fishing gear and the cruelty to birds which the practice entails?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames on 27th July, of which I am sending him a copy.