HL Deb 03 July 1991 vol 530 c69WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to hive off the marine department of the Department of Transport, on the precedent of the Civil Aviation Authority, and if not, why not.

Lord Brabazon of Tara

No. The Marine Directorate of the Department of Transport consists of the Surveyor General's Organisation (SGO), the Marine Emergency Organisation (MEO) (including HM Coastguard and the Marine Pollution Control Unit) and two administrative divisions responsible for ports policy and miscellaneous marine matters. Only the SGO has responsibilities in relation to merchant shipping analogous to those of the Civil Aviation Authority, but its size, some 350 staff in all, including those in the marine offices, would not justify the establishment of a separate statutory authority, which would require legislation.