§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the share of the United Kingdom cabotage market held by British shipping: and whether there is any information available as to the value of the market.
§ Mr. ChannonBritish-flagged shipping was estimated to have some 72 per cent. of the total United Kingdom cabotage market (by value) in 1986, the last year for which information was available. The United Kingdom has 59 per cent, of the cargo cabotage, 93 per cent. of the passenger cabotage and 73 per cent. of the offshore supply markets. In addition, up to a further 5 per cent. of the total traffic carried in foreign-flagged vessels may have been beneficially owned by United Kingdom nationals. Other EC states accounted for 12 per cent. of the total market. The value of the total United Kingdom cabotage market is estimated to be in the order of £440 million.