§ Mr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 November,Official Report, column 127, (1) if he will list the organisations and other interested parties which were consulted over the proposed Code of Safe Working Practices for Fishing Vessels' and if he will make a statement; [17553]
(2) when the new code of safe working practices for fishing vessel will be published. [17552]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Norman Godman, dated 24 November 1997:
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your Questions relating to the new Code of Safe Working Practice for Fishermen.372WThe first draft of the Code has recently been prepared for the Marine Safety Agency (MSA) by the Sea Fish Industry Authority. The MSA is convening an early meeting of the Fishing Industry Safety Group's Technical Sub Group to discuss the draft Code and to consider its further development.Publication of the Code, which will provide guidance on the regulations which implement the Framework Directive on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work and associated daughter directives, is dependent on progress on its development and on consultation with the fishing industry. We aim to introduce the regulations to implement the Directive early in 1998 and, subject to completion of the Code, to bring them into force by 31 March 1998.