A government decision to postpone the introduction of new regulations aimed at controlling ship-to-ship oil transfers in waters such as the Firth of Forth to allow a review to take place has provoked a furious reaction from Scots politicians.
He promised then he would fight to prevent the new regulations being scrapped “before they have even been given a chance to work.”
He expressed outrage at the news their introduction is to be postponed.
“As oil continues to pour into the Gulf of Mexico, it’s amazing that the new government is deferring regulation here.
“There have already been two consultations and there is no need for another review.
“The suspicion has to be that the government has caved in to lobbying from the shipping industry.
“Local councils in coastal areas have welcomed the new regulations because they know the cost in both environmental and financial terms of an oil spill.
“We shouldn’t have to wait for a disaster before the government is prepared to act,” he said.
The postponement decision follows a motion introduced by Sarah Newton, Tory MP for Truro and Falmouth, asking for the regulations to be scrapped.
This has been signed by only four MPs in contrast to a motion by Mr Lazarowicz welcoming them which has been signed by 21 MPs with a broader range of support.
Angry Central Fife nationalist MSP Tricia Marwick said she was “not at all surprised” at the news and suggested it could just be the thin end of the wedge.
She said, “Inviting representations suggest to me that they already know what they are from those who wanted to ditch the regulations in the first place.
“I think that it is really important for those of us who believe that the regulations are a step forward to make our representations to the minister and that members of the public who live around the Forth take this opportunity to make their views known yet again.”
Mrs Marwick continued, “I will continued to argue that the Firth of Forth has unique status and should be excluded from any oil transfers completely.”
Fife Labour MSP Claire Baker said, “There is a real concern that this announcement of a delay to the regulations suggests that the government may be preparing to cave in to pressure from the shipping industry.
“These types of transfers need to be done in licensed and controlled ports to ensure that they are done properly, at no risk to the environment.
“Labour’s regulations seek to do that and any attempt by Lib Dem and Conservative MPs to reverse the progress we made would be a step in the wrong direction.”
The new regulations were due to come into force on October 1, but the Department of Transport has announced it is deferring their introduction until April 1 “to ensure that all views are properly heard.”
The news was given to new Dunfermline West MP Thomas Docherty in a letter from transport under-secretary Mike Penning.
Mr Penning wrote, “Recently I have been discussing the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 with various interested parties.
“In the light of these discussions, I have decided that there needs to be a review to ensure that all views are properly heard before legislation comes into force.”
Mr Penning added that the regulations would be deferred until April 1 next year.
He wanted representations by all interested parties to reach him by the end of September.
Mr Docherty said, “The minister didn’t even have the decency, given the controversial nature of what was being announced, to come in person and make a statement today and has instead slipped it out when he thought no one was looking.
“I have raised this matter with the Speaker and will be asking the House of Commons to make time available so Forth MPs can debate this matter.
“I have also tabled questions to the minister this morning, asking him to explain who exactly are these interested parties who he claims he has had discussions with. We need to know who they are.
“The RSPB and other are absolutely opposed to this and Fife Council is opposed to this. There is a general anger about it.”
A fortnight ago, Edinburgh North and Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz, who introduced the private members bill in 2008 which ultimately led to the regulations being drafted, revealed a group of Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs were trying to have them overturned.