THE Shipping Minister, Lord Caithness, said yesterday that the

Government had done a considerable amount to improve safety around

Shetland's coastline since the Braer oilspill.

Speaking on the anniversary of the tanker grounding, Lord Caithness

defended the Government's record, and said he was surprised it had been

criticised as a ''learn nothing, do nothing'' Government by Shetland and

Orkney MP Jim Wallace.

''People do know we've done a lot and we are still doing a lot,'' he

said. ''We encouraged the shipping industry to produce a code of

practice for all their vessels. We then made representations to the

International Maritime Organisation to change the areas to be avoided

around the Shetlands, and that has been done.

''There are areas to be avoided around Orkney Islands and Fair Isle.

Those are new. There is also going to be a full survey of the Fair Isle

Channel for recommended routes this coming year.''

Lord Caithness urged islanders: ''Where tankers do break the exclusion

zone, please tell me and I will follow it up directly with the countries

involved.''

He could not stop ships using the Fair Isle Channel because it was an

international sea passage.

''In laymen's terms, there are international rights of passage around

Shetland, and around all our coast, just as there are around every other

country that has a coastline.''

An action group, set up after the Braer disaster, was last night

disbanded after just seven people turned up to an oilspill anniversary

meeting.

Secretary of the South Mainland Action Group John Johnston said they

could not continue without the support of the community.