§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those nations whose ships are able to carry cargoes in the coastal trade of the United Kingdom but whose coastal trade is closed to British registered ships.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe United Kingdom's coastal trades are open to all vessels regardless of flag. In the EC, British registered vessels do not have reciprocal rights presently in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece. We are pressing vigorously for these coastal and offshore trades to be liberalised before the end of 1992. Further afield, opportunities for British registered vessels to carry cargoes in coastal trades are extremely limited.