HC Deb 01 December 1986 vol 106 cc514-5W
Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has for each member country of the European Communities about the main sources of finance for lights and navigational aids to shipping;

(2) whether he will publish in the Official Report a tabular statement of such information as he has about the methods used in each member country of the European Communities to finance the provision of lights and other navigational aids to shipping around their coasts, indicating, in particular, whether the costs are borne by the users of the aids or are met from national or local taxation.

Mr. Michael Spicer

Light dues are levied on shipping in ports in the Republic of Ireland in the same way as in the United Kingdom; the charges, which are in Irish pounds, apply to the same categories of shipping and—subject to exchange rate variations—are broadly similar to those in the United Kingdom; in addition, the Irish Government have undertaken to make supplementary payments to the general lighthouse fund in accordance with a cost-sharing formula agreed in 1985. I understand that light dues are also levied in Greece, but I have no detailed information on the arrangements; in the other member states of the European Community, I understand, in broad terms, that the cost of navigational aids to shipping is met from general taxation, although the aids provided by harbour authorities may be financed from port dues in whole or in part.

Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what categories of users of United Kingdom ports do not contribute, by way of light dues, to the cost of aids to navigation around the United Kingdom coast; what estimate he has made of the value of such aids to those exempted categories; and whether he has any proposals to seek an appropriate contribution from the exempted categories to the costs involved.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The categories of vessels at present exempt from light dues in United Kingdom ports are set out in part III of the schedule to the Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 1981: I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

I have made no estimate of the value to these vessels of the aids that are at present financed from light dues, nor do I think it would be practicable to do so. But as my right hon. Friend told the House on 7 November, subject to parliamentary approval of the prerequisite orders, the cost of the United Kingdom transmitters of the Racal-Decca Navigator system will be borne by the general lighthouse fund from 1 January next. The system is an important marine navigational aid, and of particular value to a large part of the fishing industry. With that in mind, I am examining the feasibility of extending light dues' liability to fishing vessels and of making some minor changes to the present structure of light dues.

Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the gross expenditure of each of the general lighthouse authorities in the most recent accounting period; what income was derived from light dues in the area of each authority in the same period; and what was the net cost of light and navigation aids in the Irish Republic, borne by users of United Kingdom ports.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The general lighthouse fund accounts for 1985–86 have not yet been completed, but provisional figures are as follows:

£ Million
Gross Expenditure Light dues collected
Trinity House 31.3 32.1
Northern Lighthouse Board 11.6 8.5
Commissioners of Irish Lights IR13.4 IR1.5
and 0.4

Under an agreement reached in 1985 for sharing certain costs deemed to be incurred in the republic by the commissioners, the Irish Government have undertaken to make a supplementary annual payment to the general lighthouse fund. The expenditure within the scope of this agreement excludes certain items. The expenditure incurred in the republic by the commissioners is not separately identified in the accounts, but solely for the purposes of the cost-sharing agreement is deemed to be 70 per cent. of the commissioners' total relevant expenditure. In 1985–86, after deducting from this relevant expenditure the income from light dues collected in the republic (£IR1.5 million) and the expected contribution (£ IR1.3 million) from the Irish Government, the general lighthouse fund met the remaining costs of £IR6.7 million deemed to have been incurred in the republic.

Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the light dues paid by merchant shipping using United Kingdom ports is devoted to the provision of lights and other aids to the navigation of ships in the Irish Republic; and what information he has as to whether similar subsidy arrangements for navigational aids exist with or between any other member countries of the European Communities.

Mr. Michael Spicer

I will answer this question shortly.

Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to merge, or to arrange for the joint operation of, the navigational services provided by Trinity House, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Commissioners of the Irish Lights; and what financial savings he estimates would be achieved by such merger or joint operation.

Mr. Michael Spicer

The three general lighthouse authorities are required to undertake the superintendence an management of lighthouses, buoys and beacons, and certain duties in relation to wrecks, within their areas of responsibility. For these purposes, each authority uses its own tender vessels, some of which are nearing the end of their useful life and would be costly to replace. We have therefore commissioned Arthur Young and Co., the consultant accountants, to undertake a study of these requirements, including the possibility of a unified tender service. But no estimate has yet been made of the savings, if any, that might result.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the prerequisite order, and to contractual arrangements that are being negotiated, the authorities propose jointly to undertake the superintendence and management of the United Kingdom transmitters of the Racal-Decca Navigator system, from 1 January next.