§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the licensing requirements for seamen's agencies; and on how many occasions licences have been refused or revoked since 1973.
§ Mr. NorrisSeamen's agencies may be licensed in accordance with section 110 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894. This section permits the Department of Transport to make the licence subject to such terms and conditions as are considered appropriate. Prior to 1988 the Department refused licences to commercial agencies and the only licence holders were seven Merchant Navy establishment administration—MNEA—offices, and two unions. No licences have been refused since 1990 but two were revoked in 1993.