§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many United Kingdom-registered vessels and foreign-registered vessels, respectively, have been piloted in United Kingdom ports and coastal waters during the past 12 months.
§ Mr. David MitchellIn the year ended 31 December 1982—the latest period for which figures are available — there were 69,754 acts of pilotage on United Kingdom-registered vessels and 151,834 on foreign-registered vessels.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his responsibilities for the provision and maintenance of pilotage services in United Kingdom ports and coastal waters, and the contribution of such services towards safety of navigation and the protection of the environment in such areas.
§ Mr. David MitchellAlthough my right hon. Friend has a general concern for the safety of navigation and for marine pollution questions, he has no direct responsibility for the provision and maintenance of pilotage services in United Kingdom waters. These are matters for pilotage authorities, which are largely autonomous bodies with local responsibilities defined in pilotage orders and byelaws made under legislation now consolidated in the Pilotage Act 1983. However, these orders may be made by my right hon. Friend — on application by an interested party or by the Pilotage Commission—and, although he is not himself empowered to promote byelaws, he may reject or amend those that are put to him as he sees fit, and they cannot take effect without his consent. He also has powers under the Act in relation to pilotage authorities' lists of charges and to their actions in pilotage certification, and these bear closely on the provision and maintenance of services.