§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now examine the case for 288W incorporating existing merchant shipping notices which are recommendations for inclusion into the Safety at Sea Act 1986 and make them mandatory; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerLegislation already exists which allows merchant shipping notices to be made mandatory. Indeed some notices have this status, but it is not appropriate to make all notices mandatory. Whether a recommendation should be made mandatory is carefully considered in each case in consultation with the industry.