HC Deb 22 June 1994 vol 245 cc243-4W
Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what means the Government will introduce to encourage port and harbour authorities to evaluate and set an integrated port fee which includes an appropriate charge for the disposal of waste such as oily waste, garbage and unwanted chemicals.

Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce integrated harbour fees incorporating fees for handling oily wastes in order to encourage ships to use port waste-handling facilities.

Mr. Norris

The Marine Safety Agency is currently undertaking a comprehensive survey of the current provision of reception facilities in United Kingdom ports. Analysis of the survey results will indicate the extent to which charges for the use of reception facilities are integrated into harbour fees. Based on this information, the Government will decide what further action, if any, needs to be taken.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the United Kingdom Government will seek through the International Maritime Organisation a requirement that when garbage is discharged from a ship at shore an entry is placed in the ship's log and that such entries are subject to checking.

Mr. Norris

The United Kingdom is taking an active role at IMO in the development of shipboard waste management plans and record keeping procedures for the discharge of garbage. Record books for the disposal of garbage will, when they are introduced, be subject to checks by port state control inspectors to ensure that the regulations are being complied with.