§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who owns and controls the lighthouses around the coasts of Britain and Ireland; and whether the United Kingdom exercises sovereignty as regards any lighthouses outside the United Kingdom and its territorial sea. [HL6346]
§ Lord Macdonald of Tradeston:The lighthouses and marine aids to navigation are operated by the general lighthouse authorities. These are Trinity House Lighthouse Service, the authority for England, Wales and the Channel Islands; the Northern Lighthouse Board, the authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man, and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the authority 93WA for aids in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The GL As are beneficial owners of the lighthouse estate. In the event of the sale of any assets, the proceeds are returned to the General Lighthouse Fund that meets the costs of provision.
Trinity House is also responsible for the lighthouse at Europa. Point, Gibraltar. Trinity House acts as agent for the Department for Transport in the operation of the lighthouse at Sombrero Island. Arrangements are in hand to pass responsibility for this lighthouse to the Government of Anguilla.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to bringing the lighthouses around Britain and Ireland under the control of the British-Irish Council.[HL6349]
§ Lord Macdonald of Tradeston:Lighthouses are part of the overall infrastructure of aids to navigation provided by the general lighthouse authorities that includes traditional and electronic aids such as radar beacons and differential global positioning systems. The provision meets international requirements established by the International Maritime Organisation, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). We have not considered bringing these matters under the control of the British-Irish Council.