§ Mrs. GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached a decision on the content of the code of practice for small fishing vessels and its implementation. [141020]
§ Mr. HillTaking account of the responses to consultation and of points raised in the course of the Adjournment Debate on 16 November, it has been agreed that the requirements of the Code of Practice for small fishing vessels will comprise of
the carriage of safety equipment appropriate to the length and type of vessel;the completion of a risk assessment (as required by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997;annual self-certification by the owner that the vessel complies with the Code; andpresentation of the vessel for inspection by the MCA.The proposed requirement for a fitness of vessel assessment will be remitted to the Committee which will review the Code two years after it comes into force, with the proviso that the MCA and the fishing industry be tasked with the development of guidance on fitness of vessel assessments to assist that Committee in reaching its decision.
617WThe safety equipment requirements for vessels less than 7 metres registered length will also be modified to ease the cost of compliance for these very small vessels.
We intend to introduce the regulations which will give the Code statutory force before the end of this year and to publish the Code within the same timescale. Thereafter, we will work with industry to implement the Code from April 2001.