§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Transport how he proposes to seek to ensure that United Kingdom seafarers on foreign ships with foreign ship owners are informed of the risks of sailing into the Persian Gulf;
(2) what steps he proposes to take to seek to ensure the safety and well being of United Kingdom seafarers on foreign ships with foreign ship owners by securing for them the same rights as the seafarers on British ships sailing into the Persian Gulf;
(3) what steps he intends to take to seek to ensure that British seafarers are not coerced into sailing into the Persian gulf war zone;
(4) what advice he currently offers to shipowners as to circumstances in which they should not send their vessels into the Persian Gulf war zone;
(5) if he has any plans to take over from shipowners the responsibility to inform the crews of the dangers of sailing in the Gulf;
(6) if, in the light of increased hostilities, he will issue further and more detailed advice to seafarers sailing into the Persian Gulf;
(7) what assessment he makes of the requirement for more regular updates and detailed information to seafarers sailing into the Persian Gulf such as location, frequency and effects of attacks on civilian shipping;
(8) what action he takes against shipowners who are found to have penalised seafarers for exercising their right not to sail into the Persian Gulf war zone.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have periodically issued guidance to United Kingdom shipowners and seafarers' unions on the situation in the Gulf, most recently on 15 February and in these terms:
The Iran/Iraq conflict continues to present a threat to shipping in the Gulf. The Government's advice to British shipping companies remains that they should consider the latest information on the situation in the Gulf before deciding to send vessels into the area. It is for the companies to inform their crews about the risks involved. Masters should exercise all necessary vigilance whilst in the Gulf.I believe that owners and masters are best placed to inform crews of the dangers a voyage to the Gulf may involve and to decide on measures of safety in particular circumstances, and I have no intention of taking over those roles.
The general guidance I issue is reviewed regularly in the light of the latest reports of attacks on shipping. These attacks are, of course, reported on extensively in the press, by radio and by television, in the United Kingdom and abroad. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made arrangements for British seafarers to be able also to obtain advice on current situations from diplomatic posts in the areas of potential danger and the services of consular officials are available to seafarers in the usual way.
384WIt is British shipowners' normal practice to inform their crews when a voyage will involve a passage within the Gulf, and the National Maritime Board agreement between the General Council of British Shipping and the seafarers' unions affords seafarers an opportunity to leave a ship if they wish to before it enters the designated war zone. The agreement was reached without intervention by me. I have no powers to enforce its continuance, or to require foreign shipowners to enter into similar arrangements.