§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many marine surveyors are employed by his Department; in which parts of the country they are situated; and how many are employed at the central office in London.
§ Mr. OnslowOn 1st October 1973 the total was 295, including 89 at the central office in London. The ports in which the remainder are employed are: Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Falmouth, Glasgow, Great Yarmouth, Greenock. Grimsby, Hull, Leith, Liverpool, London, Middlesbrough, Milford Haven Newcastle. Newport, Plymouth, Southampton, Sunderland and Swansea.
§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the duties and responsibilities of the departmental marine surveyors; and if 705W he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the Rochdale Committee's recommendation concerning their work.
§ Mr. OnslowMarine surveyors of the Department of Trade and Industry provide the Department with professional advice on all matters relating to the safety of life at sea and marine pollution. They also undertake the survey, measurement and certification of ships, the investigation of shipping casualties, the carrying out of general safety inspections of British and foreign ships in United Kingdom ports and the conducting of examinations for statutory certificates of competency.
The Rochdale Committee suggested that the work of the surveyors should include a greater degree of scientific appraisal of the probabilities of danger and the cost effectiveness of precautionary measures; a greater concern with the underlying causes of accidents; improved accident analysis; and greater attention to ergonomics. All these suggestions have been or are being implemented.