§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the representations he has received for Liverpool to be the base for a national open register of shipping; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 14 March 1994]: Since the Baltic Exchange's proposals for a British open register for shipping were received in early December, the Liverpool chamber of commerce and industry has written to reaffirm its support for it and for the proposal that the registry should be located in Liverpool.
As I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 24 January, Official Report, 693W column 78, the proposal raised complex issues which required careful study. An announcement will be made shortly.