HC Deb 12 February 1992 vol 203 c509W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will detail the procedure for Government procurement of civilian merchant vessels.

Mr. McLoughlin

Merchant shipping is normally procured for Government use by chartering on the commercial market through either the Government freight market representative on the Baltic Exchange, the Government freight agent, or other specialist ship brokers.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will name the broker responsible for chartering merchant vessels for the Government.

Mr. McLoughlin

Merchant vessels are chartered through the Government freight market representative on the Baltic Exchange, presently Mr. Richard Bilton. The Ministry of Defence also charters vessels through the Government freight agent—Hogg Robinson (GFA) Ltd. —and through other specialist ship brokers.