§ Mr. HawksleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the consequences of the implementation of regulations introduced by the Marine Safety Agency on passenger-carrying boats on narrow, shallow canals; what account was taken of the existing safety record; and if he will make a statement. [24145]
§ Mr. NorrisThis is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
118WLetter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Warren Hawksley, dated 16 May 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the regulations for passenger carrying vessels on narrow, shallow canals.New regulations for passenger vessels operating on inland waterways were introduced in 1992 following an extensive consultation exercise. As a result of the consultation the inland waterways were split into four categories, the required survivability standard and scale of safety equipment varies according to the risk associated with the category of water.Passenger vessels of the type you have asked are in the least onerous category, narrow waterways with a depth of water of up to 1.5 metres. The requirements applied to these vessels were not significantly changed.The MSA is currently assessing all merchant shipping regulations as part of the Government initiative on deregulation. This will include the safety requirements for small passenger vessels.