Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role is played by (a) Ministers in the Scottish Government, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage and (c) the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency in the consenting process for oil transfer licences made under the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010.

The Local Government Authority, in whose area the proposed site is situated, is always consulted as part of the public consultation process that accompanies an application for an Oil Transfer Licence within the UK. Members of Parliament or the Scottish Parliament may get involved in the public consultation, as may Ministers in the Scottish Government, by replying to the consultation.

Both Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency are among the mandatory consultees for all applications for an Oil Transfer Licence, where the application is for a location in Scotland.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, is the Competent Authority for managing, assessing and issuing Oil Transfer Licenses within the UK. This is a reserved matter for the UK Government.