§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade why he fixed an early October date for the closure of the Grimsby marine survey office.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many jobs will be lost in Grimsby as a consequence of the closure of the marine survey office there.
§ Mr. EyreTwo marine surveyor posts will transfer to Hull and two full-time and one part-time office support posts will be given up.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what consultations have been held with the Civil Service unions on the closure of the Grimsby marine survey office; what was the form and the outcome of those consultations; and whether the unions have now accepted the case for closure.
§ Mr. EyreFirst intimation that the future of the Grimsby marine survey office was under review was given to the departmental trade union side in December 1979. Detailed proposals were put to it in October 1980 and the various points raised have been covered in correspondence with officials since that date. The subject was briefly touched on in a meeting with officials which took place in November 1980 and a further meeting requested by the unions is being arranged. Notwithstanding this meeting, it is intended to close the office on 2 October 1981.
The unions have not accepted the case for closure.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in the light of representations currently being made to him, he will postpone the closure of the Grimsby marine survey office.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade how close liaison is to be maintained between the marine survey and local shipping in (a) Grimsby and (b) Boston after the closure of the Grimsby marine survey office.
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§ Mr. EyreClose liaison will be maintained through continuing normal operational contacts with local shipping interests.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what inspections of ships under 500 tonnes will be made in Boston after the closure of the Grimsby marine survey office.
§ Mr. EyreMy Department will continue to carry out general safety inspections on a random basis unaffected by the closure of the Grimsby marine survey office.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what recommendation the Lavers report made on the future of the Grimsby marine survey office.
§ Mr. EyreThe report suggested generally the integration of the marine survey and mercantile marine organisations and, with regard to the four marine offices in Grimsby and Hull, that the location of a single integrated office at Hull or Grimsby or at a convenient intermediate point should be considered.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what savings he hopes to achieve by closing the Grimsby marine survey office.
§ Mr. EyreThe continuing integration, rationalisation, and reorganisation of marine survey and mercantile offices, of which the closure of the Grimsby MSO forms a part, is expected to result in overall savings in operating costs coupled with a more effective use of available resources.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what will be the cost of keeping two fishing vessel surveyors in Grimsby after the closure of the Grimsby marine survey office.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current cost per hour of the time of a marine surveyor in his Department; and what is the time of the return journey which surveyors will have to take from Hull to (a) Grimsby, (b) Immingham and (c) Boston after the closure of the Grimsby marine survey office.
§ Mr. EyreThe current hourly fees for a marine surveyor are as laid down in my Department's publication "Fees for Marine Surveys and Other Marine Services" issued on 1 April 1981, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Estimated return journey times are from 1½ to 3½ hours.
§ 1980. Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many ports and resorts are covered by the Grimsby marine survey office; how big is the sub-district; and how many vessels were inspected in it in (a) 1975 and (b)
§ Mr. EyreThe East of England marine survey district, which includes the Grimsby sub-office, covers the coastline between Whitby and Kings Lynn but excludes both these towns. Marine surveyor resources are deployed flexibly within the district but the main ports normally covered from the Grimsby office are Grimsby, Immingham and Boston. During 1980, 59 general inspections were carried out at these ports. Figures for 1975 are not readily available and could not be produced without disproportionate cost.