HL Deb 15 March 1978 vol 389 cc1363-4

3 p.m.

Lord SHINWELL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why regulations based on the Merchant Shipping Acts providing for increased safety on British registered vessels have not been implemented.

Lord ORAM

My Lords, regulations are made or amended as considered necessary from time to time, and implemented, to provide for increased safety on vessels registered at a port in the United Kingdom. The proposed Merchant Shipping Bill will provide wider powers to make regulations on all matters relating to the safety of ships and persons on board ships.

Lord SHINWELL

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether it has not become necessary to expedite the safety regulations in view of the increasing number of casualties on board ship? Is he aware that, although the mining industry has the largest number of annual fatalities, there is aboard ship a larger number of casualties which do not result in death—it is far in excess of the number in the mining industry—because of the changes that have taken place on ordinary vessels, on container vessels and on huge tanker vessels, and because of different machinery that has been installed on them? In those circumstances, will my noble friend ensure that the regulations which have been promised to the Navigating Officers' Union and the National Union of Seamen will be implemented as rapidly as possible?

Lord ORAM

Yes, my Lords; of course what my noble friend says about the hazards on board ship is very serious, and Her Majesty's Government are fully conscious of this. I would assure him that there is a consultative committee, including representatives of merchant shipping interests, looking into these matters, and, indeed, it is expected to report within a few weeks. Its report will include, I understand, a voluntary code of safe working practices, and is expected to recommend the making of statutory regulations. I can assure my noble friend that immediate consideration will be given to the committee's recommendations.