§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the number of marine surveyors in his Department; and what were the comparable figures over the last five years.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe information is as follows:
Marine surveyors in post Number 1988 208 1987 233 1986 246 1985 264 1984 279 1983 281 The number of ships of over 500 gross tons on the United Kingdom register decreased from 866 in 1983 to 509 in 1987 (the latest figure available). Since 1983 the ratio of marine surveyors to merchant ships of this size has increased.