HC Deb 27 October 1966 vol 734 cc1287-8
23. Mr. van Straubenzee

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking through the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation or otherwise to safeguard the large number of British passengers sailing in foreign ships from British ports.

Mr. Mason

An urgent study of fire safety standards for passenger ships is being made by I.M.C.O., the United Nations agency concerned. It is expected that the Assembly of I.M.C.O. will approve at the end of November new recommendations concerning the safety of existing ships. The question of standards for new passenger ships is also being studied urgently. The Board of Trade, representing the United Kingdom, is playing a full part in all this work.

Mr. van Straubenzee

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the Answer will be received with considerable satisfaction by those who have been in touch with certain unhappy incidents? Can he explain briefly how these new proposals, if adopted, will be enforced on foreign ships sailing from British ports, which is what the Question refers to?

Mr. Mason

I.M.C.O., the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation, will make an international recommendation. There will be a time limit in which it will ask the maritime countries to accept its recommendations flowing from the November meeting.