§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any proposals from Trinity House or any other quarter to alter the limits of the Ipswich pilotage district.
§ Mr. David MitchellOn 26 March, Trinity House, as pilotage authority for the London district, applied to the Secretary of State for an order under section 9 of the Pilotage Act 1983 amending the limits of the London district at the mouth of the River Orwell. I shall consider whether to grant approval to advertise this order in the normal way.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his intention to approve pilotage orders amending existing district limits in advance of new pilotage legislation.
§ Mr. David MitchellI shall consider such orders in the light of all the circumstances.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his intention to publish, in advance of any pilotage legislation, terms of compensation payable to those pilots who may be displaced.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe consultative document on marine pilotage, published in December 1984, proposes the transfer of pilotage responsibilities to harbour authorities, with a statutory compensation scheme for those pilots for whom there is no place in the new regime. It is our intention that at least the broad terms of this scheme should have been made known by the time the proposed legislation is introduced.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to restrict the limits of pilotage districts which are not cost-effective.
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§ Mr. David MitchellThe legislation envisaged in the consultative document is intended to improve the cost-effectiveness of pilotage services by making them the responsibility of harbour authorities. It will be for harbout authorities to determine the areas within which the interests of safety require the provision of pilotage services, subject to the need to obtain the approval of Parliament if they wish to extend compulsory pilotage outside harbour authority boundaries.
§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department keeps statistical records of the relative and comparable cost-effectiveness of different pilotage districts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe annual returns prepared by pilotage authorities contain basic statistical information. These are laid before Parliament. However, comparison of the relative cost-effectiveness of districts would also require other information, including the length of Acts of Pilotage and the physical circumstances of the district which is not shown in the returns.
§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy, when bringing forward legislation relating to marine pilotage, to maintain the present pension entitlements and expectations of British marine pilots; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellI am currently considering the responses which have been made to the consultative document on marine pilotage issued last December, and have noted the concern expressed by many pilots about their pension position.