§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Transport if Her Majesty's Government will take initiatives to resolve the conflicts between British and Soviet shipping companies concerned with liner and cargo trade; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellShipping relations between the United Kingdom and the USSR are discussed each year at the Anglo-Soviet joint maritime commission.
In the bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and the USSR, the United Kingdom Government have pressed for a more balanced level of carryings between British and Soviet vessels. Some progress has been made recently and negotiations are continuing.
The Government have also sought reductions in the level of Soviet cruise ship activities in the British market. The USSR agreed to reduce its 1984 programme of cruises by about one quarter and further reductions for 1985 are presently being negotiated between the British and Soviet operators.
In addition, each of the member states of the European Community contributes to a monitoring system concerning the activities of all eastern bloc shipping carrying general cargo on certain major routes serving the Community. Furthermore, Ministers responsible for shipping from Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the 566W Netherlands and the United Kingdom recently expressed grave concern about the activities of Soviet shipping in the liner trades between Europe and east Africa and the far east and stressed the need for Soviet shipping companies to reach an accommodation with the western European companies in these trades.