§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Transport if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support the application of EEC competition policy to the maritime transportation sector; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellArticle 87 of the treaty of Rome requires the Council of Ministers, acting on a proposal from the Commission, to adopt any appropriate regulations or directions to give effect to the principles of competition set out in articles 85 and 86. Such regulations have been adopted for all economic sectors save aviation and shipping, on which draft regulations have been proposed by the Commission and are now being discussed in a Council working group. In assessing the proposal on maritime transport, Her Majesty's Government are closely consulting the General Council of British Shipping and the British Shippers' Council.