Mr. Ron Brown(Leith) asked the Minister for Trade if, in view of the behaviour of the owners of the "Bulk Trader" which fled to the continent from the port of Leith, with a crew specially flown in from Germany, in order to evade paying US $75,000 owed to the original crew in wage arrears, he will ban ships using a flag of convenience from United Kingdom ports.
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to the reply, 21 December 1982:] No. The flag flown by a ship provides no guarantee that its crew will not find themselves with legal claims against their employer. Fortunately they have recourse, while the ship is in a United Kingdom port, to the courts in the United Kingdom, to pursue any claim that has a basis in law. The courts will hear such cases without regard to the flag of the ship. In this case I understand that six members of the crew have instituted action against their employer, although the action has not yet come to court.
§ Mr. Brightasked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to the reply of 29 July to the hon. Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins) how he proposes to wind up the aviation security fund.
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to the reply, 22 December 1982]: The full answer was not published and reads as follows: In my written answer of 29 July to the hon. Member for Preston, North (Mr. Robert Atkins) I said that the aviation security fund would be wound up with effect from 31 March 1983, and I promised that detailed arrangements would be announced later. I am now ready to announce these arrangements.
It is important that the fund should not be in deficit on winding up, and that the process of winding up, and that the progress of winding up be completed expeditiously. To this end it is proposed to proceed as follows:
- (a) The winding up of the fund will be given effect by an order under section 36(1) of the Aviation Security Act 1982, which I shall lay before the House after the Christmas Recess; that order will, from 1 April 1983, suspend the obligation on aerodrome managers to pay contributions to the fund; and it will provide for the return to contributors of a share (determined in accordance with the statute) of the net assets standing to the credit of the fund on completion of the winding up.
- (b) The Department will only consider for reimbursement from the fund claims that it receives by 31 May 1983 and that relate to expenditure incurred on or before 31 March 1983.
- (c) To ensure the fund does not end up in deficit the Department will initially withhold payment of 10 per cent. of all claims for reimbursement of expenditure incurred in the period 1 January to 31 March 1983 (with the exception of expenditure on detection equipment, which will continue to be reimbursed in full). The withheld
647 proportion of claims will be reimbursed before the winding up of the fund is completed provided that there is sufficient money left in the fund. - (d) The Department aims to return any surplus remaining in the fund to airport managers and to complete the winding up during the autumn of 1983.
The Secretary of State proposes to waive any interest he may have in the ownership and disposal of assets purchased with moneys reimbursed by the fund with effect from 1 April 1983.