§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the annual cost of the present system of pilotage in the United Kingdom; and what he expects would be the cost under the proposed Central Pilotage Board.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisFigures are not available later than the year ended 31st December 1974. During that year the total of pilotage dues collected was £13,139,652. It is not expected that there will be any appreciable change in costs in the short term when pilotage is reorganised as proposed in the policy statement made on 11th December 1975 which accepted in general the recommendations contained in the report of the Steering Committee on Pilotage. There should be improvements in efficiency and cost effectiveness in the long term.