§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether any review of the status of British dependent territory shipping registers has taken place since January 1987; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellProposals on the British dependent territory shipping registers were published in the consultative document "Proposals for Legislation on Ship Registration and Other Matters" issued by my Department in March 1984. The Merchant Shipping Bill, introduced in the other place on 29 October, by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport carries forward these proposals, modified in the light of comments made on the consultative document and 787W of subsequent developments. The White Paper "Merchant Shipping: Legislative Proposals" (Cm. 239) published on 30 October gives further background.