§ 5.18 p.m.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)My Lords, I beg to move that the draft General Lighthouse Authorities (Beacons: Hyperbolic Systems) order laid before the House on 18th November be approved.
The Racal-Decca navigator system is an important marine navigational aid in the waters around the British Isles. It provides highly accurate position-fixing signals that can be picked up by purpose-built receivers. For well over 30 years, Racal-Decca (and the Decca company before it) recovered the cost of this service from the rentals of receivers. In recent years, however, advances in technology have made it feasible for other manufacturers to sell relatively low-cost receivers, so eroding Racal-Decca's rental revenue. Racal-Decca decided earlier this year that this loss would quite shortly make it impossible for them to continue to provide the service on the previous basis. After extensive discussions with my department it was agreed in principle that the company would be prepared to continue to run UK transmitters to the same high technical standard as hitherto under the superintendence of the general lighthouse authorities and as a charge to the general lighthouse fund.
The navigator system, as I have said, is an important marine navigational aid and navigator receivers are carried on most UK-registered commercial ships. The navigator too is also of great importance to the UK fishing industry. It enables users to fix their position with great accuracy in relation to proven fishing grounds, and so greatly enhances the industry's earning power. For that reason, I am considering the feasibility of extending light dues to some categories of fishing vessel. But an important element of the agreement is that the company, as it has already announced, will no longer require that its receivers should be rented: they will be freely sold as will those of other manufacturers. So I believe there will be some offsetting savings to users whose costs are reduced by this competition. The detailed terms of the arrangements will be the subject of a contract at present under negotiation between the company and the authorities.
965 The general lighthouse fund, which is under the statutory control of my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, may be used by the general lighthouse authorities only to carry out their prescribed duties. These include the superintendence and management of lighthouses, buoys and beacons in their areas of responsibility. But I am advised that under the relevant law, the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, the expression "beacons" cannot be extended to cover hyperbolic electronic position-fixing systems, such as the navigator.
However, the possibility that the general lighthouse authorities' responsibilities might have to be extended in this way was foreseen, and an appropriate power was taken under Section 34(3) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979. This enabled my right honourable friend to promote an order that imputes a wider meaning to the expression "beacons". This is the order that is now before your Lordships, and its practical effect will be to enable the general lighthouse authorities to draw on the general lighthouse fund for the services that the Racal-Decca Company will continue to provide. The authorities, I understand, welcome this extension of their responsibilities, and I am sure that they will exercise them satisfactorily. I beg to move that the order be approved.
Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 18th November be approved. [3rd Report from the Joint Committee.]—(Lord Brabazon of Tara.)
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, this seems to be a very sensible and useful order. It is a little unusual in so far as it does not refer to an approved type but to the name of a particular firm and contract. There are two questions that I should like to ask the Minister. First, can he give the House any information on the length of the contract with Racal-Decca Marine Navigation Limited. Secondly, what will be the position if in future there is an approved system? Would that require a new order? What would be the situation then arising?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Underhill. The length of the contract is to be seven years, extendable to 10 years. If, after that time, other systems have been developed, it is possible that we might then have to make other arrangements. The noble Lord asked me particularly whether this would require a new order. My understanding is that, yes, it would, because, as the noble Lord clearly stated, this order specifies the Racal-Decca system. So if there was a decision at the end of seven or 10 years to move to a new system, it would require a new order. I should like to emphasise that should we decide to move to a new system, the maximum notice possible would be given to users of these sets so that they could acquire new sets.
§ Lord GrimondMy Lords, may I ask a question before we part with the order which I wholly welcome? I understand, and perhaps the Minister can confirm, that it will make no difference whatever to the present Decca arrangements, its present stations and its present system of navigation.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Grimond, is quite right. There will be no difference in the system as it currently operates. It is only a question of the receivers themselves, which will no longer need to be rented from Decca but which will be able to be purchased outright in future.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.