Ship Reporting Systems

HC Deb 27 October 1980 vol 991 cc45-6W

Mr. Warren

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of the ship reporting systems to be observed by oil, gas and chemical tankers operating in the Channel and Western Approaches which were the subject of negotiations with IMCO.

						Percentage changes
			1977/1976	1978/1977	1979/1978	1979/1976
Electrical machinery*:
Import unit value index	…	…	+11	+4	−5	+9
Export unit value index	…	…	+18	+9	+9	+41
Wholesale price index	…	…	+14	+9½	+11	+38
Mechanical machinery†:
Import unit value index	…	…	+15	+8½	+3	+28
Export unit value index	…	…	+20	+14	+7	+46
Wholesale price index	…	…	+16	+12	+12	+45

Mr. Tebbit:

On 1 October last the Governments of the United Kingdom and France introduced a voluntary ship reporting scheme for oil, gas and chemical tankers; it is described in detail in Admiralty Notice to Mariners No. 1610 (copies of which are in the Library).

The scheme has been introduced on a permanent basis following trials undertaken since January 1979. IMCO has recommended to member Governments that ships under their flags should participate in the scheme.