§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what checks are placed on the acceptability of passenger safety certificates as issued by foreign shipping societies or bureaux.
§ Mr. NoblePassenger ship safety certificates issued under the International Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1960—to which almost all the major maritime nations are parties—must be in the form prescribed by the convention. They must be issued either by or on the authority of the Government of the country of registry. Certificates issued by classification societies must indicate the Government on whose authority they are issued. In any case of doubt as to the authority of a society to act, appropriate inquiries would be made through the representatives of the country of registry.