§ Mr. Woolmerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has yet decided whether to invite the merchant shipping trade unions to join the shipping defence advisory committee.
§ Mr. Ian StewartMy hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State responsible for shipping matters at the Department of Trade is closely in touch with the merchant shipping trade unions on a number of issues following the Falklands campaign. The Government have concluded, however, that it would not be appropriate to invite them to join the shipping defence advisory committee.