The RequestedPartyshallpromptlyinform the RequestingParty of any circumstances which are likely to cause a significantdelay in responding to the request.
She was responding to a cross-party amendment aimed at strengthening the health secretary's duties to promote public health via methods such as advertising campaigns as peers debated the Health and Social Care Bill on 16 November 2011, the sixth day of committee stage.
The plan says that "each party shall maintain a national system for responding promptly and effectively to oil pollution incidents" without requiring any clear details on the number of ships or personnel that would be needed to cope with a spillage.