§ Mr. Wattasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he is satisfied that all Danish fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;
(2) if he is satisfied that all Irish fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;
(3) if he is satisfied that all Belgian fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;
(4) if he is satisfied that all Dutch fishing vessels operating in United King- 738W dom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;
(5) if he is satisfied that all French fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels;
(6) if he is satisfied that all West German fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down by his Department for United Kingdom vessels.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisIn the absence of internationally accepted safety standards for fishing vessels I have no means whereby to establish whether Danish, Irish, West German, French, Dutch or Belgian fishing vessels operating in United Kingdom waters comply with the safety standards laid down for United Kingdom vessels. The establishment of international safety standards for new vessels of 24 metres in length and over is the object of a conference which, under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO), is to be held in Torremolinos from 7th March-2nd April 1977. I cannot anticipate what form of convention may emerge from this conference, nor when it may come into force.