§ Mr. TredinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps were taken by his Department to ensure that the penalties imposed by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2962) are consistent with those imposed by the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and regulations under it. [28686]
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§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. R. Bradley, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. David Tredinnick, dated 10 February 1998:
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your question about consistency between the penalties imposed by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 and those imposed by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.The Regulations were copied to other interested departments during their preparation, and the differential was pointed out at that stage. However, our priority was to ensure compatibility of the penalties imposed with those to which employers are subject under other merchant shipping legislation.