§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Basildon on 2 February, if he will require all ferries carrying 100 or more passengers on voyages in the near Continental trading area and out of or into British ports to carry a qualified medical nurse; and if he will make a statement;
(2) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Basildon on 2 February, if he will take steps to extend the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Ships Doctors) Regulations 1981 (S.I., 1981, No. 1065) to ferries operating within the near Continental trading area.
§ Mr. SproatNo. Requirements to carry qualified nurses or doctors on passenger ships operating within the near Continental area would be inappropriate in view of the short passages involved, the possibility of taking a doctor to a patient or a patient to hospital by helicopter, the training in first aid and use of the ship captains's medical guide received by ship's officers and the availability of radio medical advice. I am, however, proposing to require more equipment to be included in the special doctor's bag which has to be carried on United Kingdom registered passenger ships. This will further help any doctor travelling as a passenger or lifted in by helicopter to provide treatment.