Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the number of tugs operating within the landward limits of the River Thames that are in receipt of investment grants.
§ Mr. DellInvestment grants have been paid towards expenditure on eight tugs which are, I understand, operating in the Thames area.
Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent his proposals for increased safety for pleasure craft apply within the landward limits of the River Thames; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe recently announced scheme for the issue of Boatmen's Licences to persons in charge of small passenger craft carrying more than 12 passengers which ply in inland or estuarial waters or go only short distances to sea, covers such craft plying on the River Thames.
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Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement on the number of tugs operating with Board of Trade certificates within the landward limits of the River Thames; and what qualifications are required by masters of such vessels;
(2) what study he has made of the number of tugs with Board of Trade certificates that will be required in the years ahead for use within the landward limits of the River Thames.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThese tugs are not normally required to have Board of Trade certificates; nor are there any statutory requirements governing the qualifications of their masters. However two of them which sometimes carry more than twelve passengers are required to have passenger certificates. I have no information as to the numbers of such tugs which may be required in future years; nor have I any reason to believe that a special study of the subject is called for at present.