HC Deb 26 January 1978 vol 942 cc747-8W
Mr. Stephen Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he intends taking to ensure that dangerous chemicals carried by sea are adequately marked, so that ownership can be traced.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods) (Rules 1965 (As Amended), which reflect international requirements, require dangerous goods to be clearly marked with the correct technical name and bearing a distinctive label indicating the nature of their potential danger. The case for such requirements to extend to the marking of owners' names has not been established.

Mr. Stephen Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will introduce legislation to seek to ensure that those companies involved in the carriage of dangerous chemicals by sea are made responsible for damage caused thereby.

Mr. Clinton Davis

Urgent attention is currently being given in the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) to a possible new

Zambia Zaire Tanzania Kenya Mozambique South Africa
1975 1,665 1,709 1,095 2,718 834 22,049
1976 549 254 681 1,422 568 12,483
1977* 452 222 1,060 2,524 322 4,227
*January to November.

These figures include small numbers of dumpers, crane lorries, agricultural international agreement dealing specifically with liability and compensation for damage caused by particularly hazardous substances during their carriage by sea. I propose to await the outcome of this work, in which the United Kingdom is participating, before considering the introduction of legislation.

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