§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has in respect of the Yugoslav ship Playa detained in the port of Liverpool; what the policy is towards the crew of the ship; if communication with the outside world is permitted; when he expects the ship to be released; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe MV Playa is a Montenegranowned ship. Under paragraph 24 of Security Council resolution 820, we are obliged to impound all vessels, freight vehicles, rolling stock and aircraft of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the United Kingdom. The crew can be supplied with water, gas, solid fuel, medical products, goods for personal hygiene and goods for cleansing under an open licence which has been granted by the DTI. The supply of other goods may be authorised on request.
There are no restrictions on the crew's ability to communicate and they are free to leave the United Kingdom at any time.
The ship cannot be moved until it is either sold to non-Federal Republic of Yugoslavia nationals or until sanctions are lifted.