Mr. John David Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the powers under which he appoints members of the Belfast Pilotage Authority; who are the current members of the Belfast Pilotage Authority; and if they are appointed on a regular or representative basis.
§ Mr. RidleyThe members of the authority are:
- Mr. D. P. Neill (Chairman)
- Captain A. Brines
- Mr. W. Devlin
- Mr. J. Hamilton
- Captain N. C. E. McKinney
- Captain R. J. Madden
- Mr. M. W. Mills
- Captain H. O'Byrne
- Mr. J. Simpson
Under the Belfast Pilotage Order 1982 three members are elected by the licensed pilots from among themselves; two members are appointed by the Belfast harbour commissioners; three members are appointed representing local shipping interests (two as nominees of the General Council of British Shipping and one as a nominee of the Belfast Shipping Agents' Association); and one member, independent of the foregoing interests, is appointed by unanimous agreement of the elected and appointed members. My powers extend only to the appointment of this last member in the absence of the required agreement, but so far I have not been asked to exercise this power.