HL Deb 26 June 1990 vol 520 c1606WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the grounds on which those who crew British ships, those who use them, and those who insure them, have been excluded from the working party announced on 24th May by the Secretary of State for Transport "to look at the position of the British shipping industry" and whether, in order to ensure that the working party's report should be sufficiently authoritative, they will now include representatives of these groups in the working party; and if not, why not.

Viscount Davidson

The working party is required to report no later than 14th September and needs to be kept relatively small if it is to be effective in such a short timescale. For that reason it has been established jointly between the Government and the General Council of British Shipping as the natural focal point for shipping industry interest. But the working party will be consulting other interests, as appropriate.