Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which oil transfer licences have been (a) applied for and (b) consented under the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 as amended to date.

To date the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has received five applications for an Oil Transfer Licence.

Of these three have been consented. These are:

• Shetland Island Council - Sullom Voe;

• Cromarty Firth Port Authority - Nigg Oil Terminal; and

• Port of Grangemouth.

The fourth application for the Finnart Ocean Terminal (Loch Fyne) has completed consultation and has been assessed by the MCA. A final decision is pending, awaiting legal clarification.

The fifth application, for Ship to Ship Transfers in Scapa Flow, has just been received and went out to public consultation on 10 July 2014.