§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on the safety of shipping in the Channel and in the area of our southern ports.
§ Mr. TebbitMy Department is concerned to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to maintain and improve the safety of shipping in the English Channel. To this end, we are working generally within the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation to obtain improvements in international standards and in particular with the French authorities on safety of navigation in the Channel. We will shortly be resuming discussions with the French authorities to improve the routeing of ships in the Channel with the expectation that specific proposals for changes will be submitted to IMCO for international adoption.
Within statutory port and harbour limits, responsibility for safety of navigation rests with the harbour authorities.