HC Deb 13 June 2000 vol 351 c550W
Mr. Sayeed

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2000,Official Report, column 430W, on marine surveyors, what plans he has to ensure that practising marine surveyors operating in the private sector are professionally qualified and covered by professional indemnity insurance. [125136]

Mr. Hill

There are no plans to ensure that practising marine surveyors operating in the private sector are professionally qualified and covered by professional indemnity insurance.

Private sector surveyors acting on the MCA's behalf must hold professional qualifications equivalent to the MCA's own surveyors. Certifying authority surveyors carry professional indemnity insurance as a contractual requirement. A classification Society's liability to the MCA is unlimited in the case of wilful omission, in the case of negligence it is limited to £500,000. These levels of liability are currently under review.