HC Deb 09 April 1973 vol 854 cc926-7
20. Mr. Kenneth Warren

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the multi-national discussions on the safety of shipping navigating the English Channel will be completed.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Channel safety is a continuing problem. Informal discussions with a number of North-West European countries took place at the end of March and further meetings are planned, but we hope to complete this phase of consultation during the summer.

Mr. Warren

Bearing in mind that the English Channel is the busiest seaway in the world and that at present the whole navigational process is being conducted on the see-and-be-seen basis, does not my hon. Friend think it is a miracle that a major accident affecting our coasts has not occurred already? Does he not think it is time that the French and the Dutch were told by him that it is time the talking stopped and a safe separation system was introduced?

Mr. Grant

I assure my hon. Friend that the Government are very well aware of the urgency of this problem and, indeed, have all along been taking initiatives to achieve greater safety in the Channel. It is in that respect gratifying that there has been a great improvement in the last year as regards the extent of accidents which have taken place. The French and the Netherlands have to some extent been held back by general elections and not knowing which Ministers would be responsible, but I think I can assure my hon. Friend that they will accept our view that an urgent resolution in this matter is now necessary.