§ Mr. Barry PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the arrangements for maintaining the register of small ships.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleFollowing a competitive market testing exercise, I have made the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency responsible for administering the register, previously operated by the Royal Yachting Association. The financial provision for the service now needs to be transferred from the Department's class VII vote 2 to the DVLA vote—class VII, vote 4. Parliamentary approval of this new expenditure will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency vote—class VII, vote 4. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £55,000 will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.