Pleasure Boats (Licensing and Registration)

HC Deb 15 December 1966 vol 738 cc140-1W

62. Mr. Ridsdale

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek to amend the Public Health Act, 1875 so as to require the licensing of all boats intending to ply for hire and to institute a national registrar for ships and small boats.

Mr. Mason

Section 94 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1907, where in force, enables local authorities to license pleasure boats and many authorities do so. I do not consider that the compulsory registration of small boats would be justified.