§ Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Minister of Transport when the new Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea will come into force; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarplesThe coming into force of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1960, requires "substantial unanimity" among the Governments concerned. It is for the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (I.M.C.O.) to determine when this has been achieved and to fix a date which will be not less than one year afterwards. I understand that the Governments of 26 countries, representing about 57 per cent. of the world's merchant ships of 100 tons or more, have accepted the new Regulations so far.