HC Deb 22 May 1986 vol 98 cc246-7W
Mr. Ottaway

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many inspections have been carried out under part I of the Merchant Shipping Act 1984; and how many notices have been served as a result.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Inspections of ships are undertaken on an ad hoc basis to ensure compliance with a variety of merchant shipping regulations and not to give effect to part I of the Merchant Shipping Act 1984 which makes provision only for the service of improvement and prohibition notices. Since the Act came into force, marine surveyors of my Department have made about 5,500 ship inspections and have issued eight prohibition and three improvement notices.