HC Deb 25 November 1996 vol 286 cc8-9
6. Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to modify the rules and regulations governing the occupational safety of the crews of United Kingdom-registered fishing vessels. [4007]

Sir George Young

The occupational safety of crews in United Kingdom fishing vessels is being pursued through the development of regulations to implement EC health and safety directives.

Dr. Godman

I know that the Secretary of State has an abiding concern for the safety of fishermen. Does he agree that, when a fishing vessel must be abandoned and the crew forced into the water, crew members stand a far greater chance of survival and rescue if they are wearing survival suits—that is, if they have had time to don them? Why is the Department of Transport reluctant to introduce a regulation governing the carriage of such survival suits on all UK-registered fishing vessels? Is that not the case with the European Union's directive on occupational and safety matters relating to fishermen? Why not give owners and skippers a one-off grant to purchase such suits?

Sir George Young

I hate to challenge what the hon. Gentleman said, because I respect his knowledge of these matters, but my information is that the existing international and European obligations do not require the carriage of immersion suits. None the less, that would clearly be valuable in the circumstances that he outlined, and my Department will shortly promulgate a recommendation that fishermen should wear an automatic single-chamber inflatable lifejacket when working on deck.

Mr. Waterson

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Government have done a great deal to enhance the safety of not only fishing crews but all crews operating in UK waters, especially by stepping up inspections of vessels calling at ports in this country and publishing lists of so-called ships of shame?

Sir George Young

Yes, indeed. That is a valuable initiative, which the Department introduced two or three years ago. We do detain ships when they do not reach the right standards, we publicise their names to exert peer group pressure and we keep the vessels until such time as the necessary repairs have been carried out.