STILL NOT ENOUGH BEING DONE TO PROTECT MARINE ENVIRONMENT - MILLER

3.18.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 18th Jul 2003

As MPs and Peers begin their recess at the end of the week, Baroness Sue Miller, Liberal Democrat DEFRA Spokesperson, is asking them to remember the importance of clean beaches and seas, and how the marine environment is still under threat in many ways.

At Question Time in the Lords, Baroness Miller will demand that the Government does not fall behind with its promise to assess the condition of the whole UK marine environment by 2004.

Baroness Miller will also ask whether the Ministry of Defence is still firing Depleted Uranium shells into UK waters, and whether that increased as a result of the war with Iraq. She will also highlight emissions that are still polluting the sea from nuclear power stations.

Baroness Miller said:

"The Government still appears to have an attitude that because the sea is so big, it doesn't matter if we put a bit of radioactive waste into it. That is simply wrong. It does matter and plenty of our neighbours like Ireland and Norway agree.

"Ministers must take more effective action to curb the damage inflicted by oil spills and litter.

"I hope that as members of the Government enjoy a swim, they will reflect on the fact they should give the same legal protection to marine ecosystems as they do to terrestrial ones."