§ Mr. Evennettasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has held any consultations with (a) Trinity House, (b) the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses or (c) the Commissioners of Irish Lights to discuss the reorganisation of the lighthouse service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellBecause of my right hon. Friend's statutory responsibility for expenditure from the general lighthouse fund my Department has close and frequent discussion with all these bodies on a wide range of matters that affect, or are effected by, the organisation of the services that each provides. There have been no discussions with any of them about reorganisation of the lighthouse service as a whole, but last autumn I had most useful and constructive discussions with Trinity House which led on to the restructuring of their Lighthouse Board. This now includes four outside directors of wide business and technical experience.