§ 54. Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to invite other nations to share the cost of maintaining the two lighthouses for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible at the southern end of the Red Sea.
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettThe Government of the Netherlands have for many years made a contribution of 6 per cent. towards the total cost of maintaining the lighthouses of Abu Ail and Jabal at Tair. The question of sharing the costs more equitably between nations whose shipping benefits from the lights was discussed at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation in April, 1961. It was then agreed that Her Majesty's Government should convene a diplomatic conference on the subject, and this conference was held in London in October, 1961. It was attended by 12 nations including the United Kingdom.
An agreement for sharing the costs was drawn up at this conference and was opened for signature in London on 20th February, 1962. So far only the United Kingdom and the United States have signed the agreement, the United States subject to acceptance, but I hope that other countries will follow suit. The agreement will come into force when countries representing fifty per cent. of the tonnage passing through the Suez Canal have become parties to it either by signature alone or by signature subject to acceptance, followed by acceptance.