§ Mr. WardTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to discuss with our EEC partners a requirement for all vehicles using roll-on roll-off passenger vessels to be weighed; and whether he will consider extending this to non-passenger vessels.
§ Mr. PortilloThere have been discussions with European shipping administrations about the United Kingdom regulations requiring the weighing of goods vehicles before loading on passenger ro-ro vessels. Whilst most Administrations have appreciated the value of our regulations, the extent to which they are likely to take such measures themselves is not clear.
I have no plans at present to extend the regulations to non-passenger ro-ro vessels.
§ Mr. WardTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to extend the requirements of Statutory Instrument 1988 No. 1275 concerning the weighing of vehicles using roll-on roll-off passenger vessels to foreign registered ships.
§ Mr. PortilloA draft order extending the Merchant Shipping (Weighing of Goods Vehicles and Other Cargo) Regulations 1988 to non-United Kingdom ships will be laid this week. Subject to the appropriate parliamentary approval the new regulations will come into force on 31 March.