§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for ensuring that users of the marine environment pay for air/sea rescue operations and other maritime services which are at present financed from public funds.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantThe United Kingdom, as a contracting party to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, has undertaken to ensure that necessary arrangements are made for the rescue of persons in distress at sea round its coasts. To ask these persons to pay for air/sea rescue operations would raise wide issues of principle that would need careful consideration. It is already our practice to charge fees for510W maritime services wherever appropriate, and it is our policy that such fees should recover the full cost of providing the services.