§ Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in implementing the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee in its 29 report of Session 1981–82 that the deficit on the lighthouse service in the Republic of Ireland should not continue to fall upon shipping calling at United Kingdom ports; and when he expects the Government of the Republic of Ireland to meet the full cost of their international obligations in respect of navigational aids for shipping.
§ Mr. PortilloThe United Kingdom and Irish Governments reached a financial agreement in 1985 under which an increasing proportion of the expenditure of the Commissioners of Irish Lights deemed to be incurred in the Republic is being met from sources within the Republic. We are in the transitional stage of that agreement but, when it is fully in place in 1989–90, half the deemed expenditure in the Republic will be met from a combination of light dues collected in the Republic and a contribution from the Irish Exchequer. My right hon. Friend has no plans to reopen negotiations on this agreement.