§ 35. Mr. Ridsdaleasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that, before giving a decision on the new byelaw proposed by Trinity House concerning the classes of pilots in the London pilotage district, he will consult representatives of shipowning interests on the safety of the route for large ships through the Straits of Dover recom 1576 mended in his Department's Notice to Mariners No. 760(P) 5/1967 compared with the coastal route on the north of the Straits.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu)This application is under consideration and I hope to reach a decision shortly. Interested parties, including the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, have been consulted, and all factors particularly those relating to the safety of navigation are being taken into account.
§ Mr. RidsdaleIs the Minister aware that a considerable number of superintendents of shipping companies have expressed the view that the new byelaw will cause shipping not to use the safest route? Will he bear this in mind because a certain number of pilots have said that over a period of 10 years this might cause an accident on the scale of the "Torrey Canyon" accident if this byelaw is brought into effect?
§ Mr. MallalieuWe consulted all parties, the representatives of the Chamber of Shipping and so forth, and we have all the opinions and facts. On the basis of that we will make the decision.