HC Deb 14 July 1987 vol 119 cc417-8W
Mr. Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will announce the results of studies undertaken into the tender vessel requirements of the general lighthouse authorities.

Mr. Channon

In June last year my right hon. Friend, jointly with the three general lighthouse authorities, commissioned Arthur Young Management Consultants to review the authorities' tender vessel requirements. I have now received their report and I am placing copies of it in the Library.

I believe that this is the first joint comprehensive appraisal that has been made of the authorities' tender vessel requirements, and I am grateful to the consultants for undertaking it. Their report makes a wide range of recommendations which I shall be considering carefully in close consultation with the authorities, the Lights Advisory Committee (which represents shipowners, shippers and port authorities) and the Irish Government.