§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his intentions regarding the retention of responsibility for ship survey within the Surveyor General's organisation and marine survey section (a) in respect of the United Kingdom register and (b) in respect of registers of dependent territories.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe arrangements under which classification societies undertake certain marine survey work on United Kingdom ships on behalf of the Department are kept under regular review. Plans are in hand for the transfer of classification societies of the survey and certification of submersible craft, and the assessment of impact stability of mobile offshore drilling units. There are no plans for any further changes at present.
As regards ships registered in the dependent territories, the Department's surveyors undertake certain surveys, on a repayment basis, depending on the capacity of the administrations in question.